Snow fell in Kyoto Prefecture on January 25, 2024 due to the cold and humid air. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto City's Kamigyo Ward held its first festival of the year, ''Hatsutenjin,'' and worshipers were careful not to slip as they walked through the shrine grounds lined with snow-covered shrine buildings.
Many worshipers visit on the 25th of every month, commemorating the birthday (June 25th) and death anniversary (February 25th) of the enshrined deity, Michizane Sugawara. Every year, during the first Tenjin festival, the grounds are lined with stalls and crowded with parents and children praying for success.
On the morning of January 25th, snow had fallen on the roofs of the main shrine (a national treasure) and the Sankomon gate (an important cultural property), as well as the Nade-ushi and Koma-inu. There were fewer stalls than usual, and the number of worshipers was sparse.
Foreign visitors to the shrine exclaimed, "Beautiful," and pointed their smartphones at the silvery-white grounds. A 63-year-old office worker from Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture, said, ``It's a quiet and nice atmosphere,'' as he took photos of plum blossoms covered in snow.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, as of 9 a.m., the snowfall was 1 cm in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, 46 cm in Maizuru City, and 40 cm in Miyama, Nantan City.
