Surrounding the place of worship for followers of the Rinzai School of Japanese Buddhism, the bamboo-flanked gardens at Kodai-ji Temple are dedicated to the country's cultural heritage.

The hachiku bamboo plant expands by sending out underground stems, which can grow at a rate of about 2 meters per year. The plant then essentially creates clones of itself by sending up shoots ...

An curved arrow pointing right. Longbows, or Yumi, have been used in Japan for centuries. But today, a handmade bamboo bow can cost over $2,000. At over 2 meters tall, these bows are difficult handle.

YAMAGA, Kumamoto Prefecture--Hundreds of traditional Japanese umbrellas and thousands of bamboo lanterns are warming the atmosphere of the cold winter nights here. The festival, called “Yamaga ...