NFL Players Explore Kyoto's Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
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Arashiyama’s iconic “Bamboo Grove” is one of Kyoto’s most recognized landmarks. With thousands of bamboo stalks soaring over 20 meters high, weaving a soft green canopy overhead, this mystical setting captivates travelers from around the globe - including numerous visiting NFL players.
Bordering the northern edge of Tenryu-ji, a world-famous Zen temple and UNESCO World Heritage site, the entire area is steeped in a serene, meditative atmosphere. The soft slopes, traditionally woven bamboo-branch fences (Takegaki), and clean linear aesthetics naturally draw the eye deeper into the grove, making it a favorite photo spot. Its overwhelming presence effortlessly holds its own, even when framed alongside global superstars and celebrity athletes.
Aidan Hutchinson
The top-left caption reveals Hutchinson visited the grove just before attending the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo. His vibrant down jacket pops brilliantly against the deep green background. Capturing the exact moment he raised his camera to shoot, this image holds great documentary-style authenticity. The inclusion of fellow tourists lets viewers feel as though they are re-experiencing the journey right alongside him.
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Attending the same Crunchyroll awards event as Hutchinson, Smith-Schuster appears to have stopped by Arashiyama shortly afterward. Shot from an ultra-low angle, his full figure is shown gazing up into the towering bamboo. This contrast between human scale and nature directly conveys the sheer height of the grove.
Stefon Diggs
Diggs is also captured full-body as he looks up into the canopy. While the scale of the bamboo is emphasized against his frame, the woven fences and towering stalks pull the viewer’s eye deep into the center of the photo, creating an almost magnetic, immersive perspective.
A’Shawn Robinson
Taking advantage of the low angle and gentle slope, Robinson strikes a commanding arms-crossed pose. Utilizing his massive physique as a Defensive Tackle, this shot produces a powerful presence where both the giant athlete and the soaring bamboo share center stage.
Russell Wilson
A stunning couple shot with his partner, pop superstar Ciara. While the focus remains squarely on the iconic duo, using the bamboo-lined path as a lavish backdrop, the natural scenery holds its own perfectly against two international superstars.
Davon Godchaux
Another intimate portrait featuring Godchaux alongside his partner, supermodel Chanel Iman. With dense bamboo stalks filling almost the entire frame, the pair is captured looking upward into the canopy. By omitting the pathway entirely, the image creates an enveloping sensation of being completely surrounded by a wall of green.
Patrick Surtain II
Shot directly from the perspective of a rickshaw passenger, this photo offers a vivid sense of immersion. The converging lines of the brushwood fences and bamboo stalks guide the viewer’s eyes straight ahead, making you feel as though you are gliding through the grove yourself.
Kwity Paye
Also taken aboard a rickshaw, Paye’s photo captures the quiet anticipation just before setting off. The bright red blanket across his lap serves as a striking focal point against the surrounding sea of green. By leaving open space along the right side of the path, it naturally tells a story: “We are about to journey deep into this quiet forest.”
Charles Cross
Designed to showcase the incredible height of the soaring bamboo, the converging fences lead the viewer’s gaze deep into the background to create exceptional depth. The dark-clad figure in the foreground (presumably Cross) stands out clearly from the surrounding tourists, giving the image a compelling narrative feel.
Davante Adams
By opting for a monochrome edit, the sharp contrast between the bright light filtering through the canopy and the dark bamboo trunks evokes the tranquil aesthetic of a traditional ink-wash painting (Suibokuga). The modern clothing of tourists at the bottom creates a fascinating juxtaposition between ancient artistic serenity and everyday modern life.
Tom Brady
Shot from a low angle, this photo expertly illustrates the dramatic scale of 20-meter-high bamboo blanketing the sky. The contrast with tourists walking along the bottom of the frame further emphasizes the sheer grandeur of the forest.
TAl-Quadin Muhammad
The parallel fences and straight lines of bamboo naturally draw the eye toward the back of the shot. Muhammad’s outfit, reminiscent of Japan’s traditional indigo dyeing (Aizome, often called “Japan Blue”), lends a calm, grounded tone to the image that perfectly captures the quiet stillness of Arashiyama.
Summary
The unique interplay of light and shade, along with the vertical beauty of bamboo rising over 20 meters high, is rendered all the more dynamic when viewed through the lenses of world-class athletes. From low-angle shots emphasizing sheer scale and charming rickshaw perspectives to dramatic monochrome edits, each player brought a unique artistic sensibility to this timeless Kyoto landscape.
We will continue to update this article as more NFL players share their amazing travel photos from Japan!