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Jan 16, 2025

Things I love about winter in Japan: snowy shrines and temples

There's something really beautiful about winter at shrines and temples here in rural Niigata. Obviously they're already serene places at other times during the year, but I feel like there's an additional silence and stillness that comes when they are surrounded by a bunch of snow. I don't see as many people visiting them in the winter (understandably so, especially since many in our area are older people), so that adds to the sense of having these kinds of places all to yourself.

Things I love about winter in Japan: snowy shrines and temples photo

It also gives me an appreciation of just how much it snows out here. I'd never lived anywhere snowy before Niigata (well, I lived in Tokyo for a while, but 1-2 days of snow a year isn't much), and sometimes it still wows me with just how much of it there is. When it piles up against buildings you really get a bit of perspective!

genkidesu

genkidesu

Love to travel, interested in J-beauty products and consider myself a convenience store snack aficionado. Navigating the ever-present challenges of expat life, particularly about my TCK's (third culture kids).


1 Comment

  • TonetoEdo

    4 hours ago

    Wow, awesome photo! It reveals the different climates of Japan. Here in Kanto, the forecast is near freezing at night, and the skies will be clear for at least the next week. Will Kanto get snow this winter?....