Snow

Last night, just as I was thinking winter would sneak by undetected this year, Hideaki came home from work with rosy cheeks and a head adorned with snowflakes. I'd had no idea it had been snowing, having napped the evening away (a wonderful new habit of mine) after getting soaked in the rain earlier. But somewhere during my slumbers the raindrops had turned to snowflakes, great big fluffy snowflakes, and although we huddled under a blanket on our balcony and enjoyed the view for a while, we were both too tired to actually go out and enjoy it. All that napping can really tire a girl out, after all (I have no idea what his excuse was).

So I had to hope the snow would stick around, and sure enough when I opened the curtains this morning there was a blanket of rapidly melting but still pretty snow on the ground. So I put on my snow boots and headed out to enjoy our first real snowfall in two years.

Like all snowy days in Tokyo there were very few people about, even at the local park which is normally bustling with activity at this time of day. A few intrepid seniors out for their morning walk, a handful of park security guards and volunteers clearing paths, a grand total of three moms with their kids, and four people walking their dogs.

The toy poodle and chihuahua were not having any fun at all, mincing around on the cold wet path as if they were cats. A couple of real dogs were making the most of the snow, including the one above, whose owner looked like she was having almost as much as her dog. It was also nice to see one man who, like me, was purposely walking on the fresh virgin snow instead of the cleared path, although when he saw me looking he sheepishly returned to the path. Lord knows why.

But the place was otherwise deserted, and I felt like I had the whole park to myself. So I did what I always do when it snows: take pictures of flowers. Above is a frosty ume (Japanese apricot) blossom, and below are a couple of icy clusters of mansaku (witch hazel) flowers.

I wanted to stay out longer, but the rumblings in my tummy told me it was time to head home for breakfast. Now that that's out of the way, I think I'll go have a nap. Yawn.

Comments

[kat]

beautiful photos!

[Sarah]

The elderly volunteers at the park I pass on my way to work had already shoveled the paths and had moved on to shovelling the playground structures... Not a child in sight, but the playground must be snow-free I guess...?!

[Tamara]

Why does the snow in Tokyo look so much prettier than the snow in Bloomington, IN? For one thing, not every thing is DEAD--how did those flowers survive?--and for another, it hasn't turned mushy slushy brown yet. Hate snow. Hate hate hate snow. But your pictures are beautiful.

[tofugirl]

I love that there is both snow and blooming flowers. Beautiful photos. Here in New York, the snow is pretty for about 10 minutes before it turns into grey mush!

[AS]

I was in Tokyo when it snowed too ^^. It was my first time seeing and playing with snow. Pretty cool that it happened on the day that I was leaving ^_^. I saw a bunch of school kids playing with the snow when I was in Ueno Zoo. Though I played a bit myself too ^^.

[Robin]

Beautiful pics. The flowers with snow on them are unique and beautiful.

[meemalee]

That last pic is amazing - the melting snow looks like baubles ...

[Suzanne]

I loved each and every one of these pictures .... beautiful

[Katie]

I miss snow. It looks like you got a great deal of it - how nice that it was still there in the morning.

[Lauren Dunn]

I just want to say that I enjoy viewing your travels and experiences..... I'm enthralled by Japanese culture, history, cuisine, and history. Your blog has been an interesting find for me and I will visit it often. Thank you for making this person's life happier, by seeing your pictures and hearing of your fun experiences it gives me a little happiness of my own, and helps me to imagine what it would be like to see it for myself. Thank you and may you have eternal happiness.