Snow lines the top of the torii gate of Hikone Jinja.
A chilly Christmas Day in Japan, while no match for the Antipodean holiday, is a chance to enjoy aching familiar traditions that were slightly altered as they came through a different cultural lens. An opportunity to experience the romance of a date on Christmas Eve followed by a day of overindulgence in KFC chicken.
Or maybe to simply appreciate the wintry scenery, of snow covered temples and shrines that challenge our image of the traditional Christmas-time view.
Stone and snow: Small Buddhist pagoda dominate the otherwise featureless hill-top.
Shining drips of snow-melt falling as the sun comes out, a few late season maple leaves defying the cold.
Irrigation canals for rice-fields in summer, in winter carry away the melting snow.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone, no matter where they are in the world. I wish us all a safe, fun day.
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Where Next Japan 
We had a few light snow showers here in Sakai city on Christmas Eve. No snow on the ground but enough to give a little seasonal touch. We had a western-style Christmas dinner at home (at no small effort and expense!), so no KFC for us!
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Haha, I bet it was worth the time and money though. And now for the delicious New Years food ^^
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Thank you following my blog. i live in Awaji Island. you also live in Japan. Please teach me Japanese something that you saw from the foreign country. I’ll be counting on you.
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Thanks for the comment ^^ My husband’s cousin lives on Awaji shima – she says it’s very beautiful.
I also have a blog about Australia if you want to read about foreign countries ^^
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What are the chances? Your cousin just lives on same island. I want to visit your blog about Australia. But, I can only read a little English, so I just will visit it.
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