May 18 (NHK) - Kyoto City officials have discovered about 100 bamboo plants in the city's Arashiyama district vandalized.
They say they found various letters and Chinese characters carved into the plants' stems.
They say the vandalism began around February and has increased rapidly since April.
The city has put up signs in foreign languages. It also plans to introduce other preventive measures, such as installing higher fences around the bamboo grove.
The city began to allow tourists to visit the forest of several-thousand bamboo plants 3 years ago for free.
It has become one of the most popular sightseeing spots in the ancient Japanese capital.
An official managing the plants says the roots of bamboo plants are interconnected, so a scar on one could affect others.
He said he wants visitors not to harm the plants.
Source: ANNnewsCH
