Kodaiji Temple

Zen temple in the Higashiyama district with its own bamboo grove, gardens, and a tea house serving traditional tea and sweets.

A quieter alternative to Arashiyama: the bamboo grove here draws far smaller crowds than the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, so you can actually take your time and get photos without people in the frame. It's only a 5-minute walk from Yasaka Shrine. Night illuminations run in spring, summer, and fall, so it's worth a visit after dark too.