View From Temple

Inside, Outside Temple

A rare temple in that it's pretty much open to the elements, one of my favourite in Yamagata.  Outside can be seen in the photo below.

Karamatsu Kannon Temple

Iide Range

A rare clear day at the top of Mt. Zao.  We could see all the mountains, this range was pretty spectacular.  It's at times like these I wish I had my SLR with zoom lens.  Oh well this is the best I could do with my compact camera.  After all I was there to go snowboarding.

Entering the Expressway

Must be about 3 metres of snow.  Felt surreal driving through, what felt like, snow tunnels.

Driveway to the Shrine

Look at how the snow walls are, way above the top of the car.

Snow Laden Shrine

The Gate

The entrance to the Shrine at Mt Haguro, one of the three holy mountains in Tohoku, North Japan.

Winter Forest

What to do?

One way to deal with all the snow from off the roof.  I love it!

Old Derelict Barn

Beautiful old building, sitting quietly biding it's time in the snow.  I would love to live in an old Japanese wooden farm house, to renovate it, bring it back to life, and make it warm again.

The Snow Dump

Where to put all that snow cleared from roads and rooves? Why, the snow dump, of course.  We took four mini-truck loads to save our rickety old garage from possible collapse.  Mountains of snow and trucks busy coming and going, dealing with all that frozen water obstructing the flow of the city.

Hatted Trees

They looked almost comical standing so tall and strong at the window wearing their hats of snow.  Like sentries at  the window of our yoga class, taken on the 4th Feb, a cold blizzardy morning, I was so impressed at those who made it out of their cozy homes to come practice.

Winter's Night Walk

Came across a Shrine lit up in the snow.  Looked so reassuring on such a cold night.

Subtle Colours in a Winter Forest

Enjoyed the pastel shade on white, and even saw a white rabbit hopping through the forest, way too fast for me to get my camera.

Time

To sit down and look up.

Frolicking in the Snow

Well we were supposed to be boarding, but got a bit stuck in a deep flat place, all fun anyway!

Blue Sky Mountain Top

Mountain Peeking

Secret Garden

No  one had been here, there was no path, the lake is buried under snow and the bamboo bending under the weight, such a peaceful temple garden.

The Local Temple

Temple Entrance

Strength of Trees

How they can support such a lot of snow.

Blobs of White

Never tire of looking at blobby snow balancing on wires.

Kahoku Style Snow

Sure some people couldn't open their doors here this morning, the amount of snow was phenomenal.

Piles of Snow

Record amount of snow fell this morning, 88cm.  Most in twenty years, even though it made my day incredibly hard and long, I couldn't stop myself grinning from ear to ear at all the white fluffy stuff.   So we know what the next few posts will be of.  I love snow!