I don’t have the statistics, but yesterday it snowed fairly heavily. It was very dramatic at school. As the snow fell persistently the teachers called an emergency meeting. It was decided that the school would be closed from 2pm, and all the children MUST return home. I even heard a student say disappointedly “ouuuuuuh, and this afternoon’s English”.  After the students had returned home, talk turned to how many emergency futons and instant ramen we had. But as much as the teachers loved the school we were all more willing to chance the perilous road conditions than stay the night. A cup of green tea and a valentine’s chocolate for good luck. Then we were ready to make our break-out and drive skidding wheels up the the snow covered ramp out of the car park and into the unknown whiteness.

I set out straight away on a quest to find some children to throw snowballs at or assemble a snowman with, but nobody was out to play.

I saw this coloured banner from the road. It lead me to a temple, I never knew existed before. It’s very striking in an entirely monochrome landscape.

It’s been a particulary cold winter. Back on January 16th it also snowed and I embarked on a real expedition, to walk to Jintsu waterfall. Jintsu waterfall is known to freeze on very cold days. All the way up there is a remarkably busy place on a snowy day.