bamboo – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

A Hidden Bamboo Grove on Mt. Inari

Susan Spann Blog December 6, 2021December 6, 2021bamboo, bamboo groves, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Japan, Japan travel, sightseeing

oto’s Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is among the most famous–and, as a result, most crowded–options, and while it’s definitely impressive (even more so, if you happen to visit at a time when there aren’t many other visitors), I prefer the less-known, but equally beautiful, natural bamboo forest on Mt. Inari (Fushimi Inari Shrine).

What’s a ‘Shinobi’ Anyway?

Admin Uncategorized January 4, 2013bamboo, Japan, language fun, ninja, shinobi

Ninja fans will already know the answer to this one, but for those not already in the know: The word “ninja” comes from a Japanese word which is written using Kanji, or characters, borrowed from the Chinese. The Chinese pronunciation of the characters is “nin sha” – or “ninja” in the Western derivation. The Chinese pronunciation is sometimes also used in Japan, but the native Japanese pronunciation of the characters is “shinobi.” TL;DR: A Shinobi is a Ninja. The different pronunciations enable me to offer the entertaining explanation that shinobi is “the Japanese word for ninja.” (Think about it for a