The act of carving one’s name into a bamboo tree shouldn’t be viewed as a keepsake; rather, it is an act of vandalism. Although it could be perceived as an innocent “I was here” moment, the damage that occurs emotionally may create a lasting impression and cause irrevocable destruction to the natural world. Unfortunately, this is exactly what is occurring in one of Japan’s most beautiful and well-known locations.
Within a labyrinth of old stone walkways, endless rows of Torii gates, and peaceful forest atmosphere lies the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, a site that has been recently affected due to irresponsible actions of visitors. The very popular bamboo grove at the shrine has recently been defaced by visitors who have carved names, symbols, hearts, and dates into individual bamboo stalks.
This is not just the consequence of one or two individuals carving their names; rather, it appears to have become a widespread trend.
Local media outlets have released videos showing pictures of over twenty-four bamboo trunks with letters of the English alphabet compared to Japanese characters being carved into the trunk. Some have also carved hearts and other special dates onto the bamboo. The worst defacement and damage was reported to have occurred in the area surrounding the Fushimi Kandara shrine, which sits on the hiking trail that leads to the summit of the mountain.
Akira Nakamura, who has lived in the area for many generations and has owned family land for many generations, stated that there are more than one hundred bamboo trees in that area that have been vandalized.
A bamboo tree will not just be scratched and reverted back to its original condition because deep cuts in the bamboo wood can lead to excessive drying, decay from the inside out from fungus and mold, and the eventual collapse just like all other living organisms. The bamboo tree being marked like this is not only a horrible sight to see but will also lead to the eventual death of an important living organism.
Once one person carves their name into a bamboo tree, this type of damage spreads like wildfire—many more people see the first mark and proceed to carve names or figures. Therefore, the entire bamboo forest turns into one large “message board.”
This is not limited to only the bamboo in Kyoto. In 2022, a number of people damaged the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove by carving their names and figures into over 350 bamboo trees.
In November 2025, a group of Malaysian tourists caught carving names into bamboo trees in Arashiyama stated that they did not understand that what they were doing was not permitted; that explanation does not help the situation.
Japanese sources also pointed out that not only international tourists were responsible for the carvings; it has been researched further that Real Japanese writing was found along with some of those carvings and gives the impression that the people lived nearby.
The question should not be who did it but rather ‘how’ we perceive the sites. As a society, we tend to value and therefore preserve what we consider beautiful. The reason we attach sacredness to a temple, forest or historical cultural site is not to justify our using that space as part of our identity, but instead to view those places as “. . . property owned collectively by everyone.”
When we travel, we are inspired to grow when we return and tell others about our experience; thus, it should change who we are not what or where we have traveled.
