Asakusa in the Snow: A Rare Winter Scene in Tokyo
Sunday, February 8. This morning, Tokyo awoke, gently veiled in a quiet blanket of snow. Around Kaminarimon Gate, Sensō-ji Temple, and the five-story pagoda in Asakusa, the usual bustling crowds and vibrant colors seem to hold their breath today. Instead, the district reveals a softer, pristine white side of itself. What is falling is not the cold, unpleasant slush of rain-mixed snow. Instead, large, fluffy, dry flakes drift slowly through the air—what we call botan-yuki, or "peony snow," named after the way they bloom like the great flower itself. Many visitors are walking without umbrellas. Children reach out to catch the snow, some even trying to taste it, laughing as they go. It’s clear they’re enjoying a snowy Asakusa just as it is. When people think of Tokyo, snow usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. And it’s true — Tokyo is not a snow city. Winters are often sunny, even cold but clear. Still, anyone who lives here knows the feeling: Even when you think, ...