#winter in tokyo

It snowed in the bamboo forest. I did not care. I went to the forest at night. I did not mind the cold for I was born and raised where there were four seasons. Winters was always cold. There was always snow. Otherwise, I would have not called it much of a winter.

Here, many folks think Japan is the only country with four distinct seasons. I gave up years ago trying to dispel that. But it is always nice to see the rare little snow storm in Tokyo in spite of the chaos it causes. Because I, a fellow from a land where winter actually meant cold and snow, can imagine that there is a winter in Tokyo. For a day.

One Snowy Night on the Tamagawa River.

Tokyo side looking toward the Kanagawa side. Such a heavy snow that I could not keep my lens clean. Snow is memorable in Tokyo since it is so rare. circa 2009 or 2010

January 22, 2018 in Nerima-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

The record breaking 21cm snowfall colloquially known as snowmageddon occurred one year ago today.

I really want it to snow like this again in Tokyo, but I’m afraid this year has been too warm and it seems unlikely to happen. 

On this day several people at my office left early to avoid the commotion at the stations, as trains are delayed sometimes indefinitely when there is heavy snowfall in Tokyo (snow is uncommon in Tokyo and public response to even the tiniest of flurries is, well, inept). I left the office at the regular quitting time and trains were still running with some short delays. I think the snowfall really picked up as I arrived at my station where I took these photos, so the timing for me worked out perfectly. Though I do remember the next morning walk to the station being perilous as everything was frozen and super slippery.