The colorful blooms of an ume tree in Nishigahara appear even brighter under their blanket of snow. February 8, 2026 (©Earl H Kinmonth)
Some parts of Japan are noted for heavy snowfalls such that houses sometimes collapse from the weight of the snow that has accumulated on the roof. Tokyo, meanwhile, has an annual snowfall of 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) with 1-3 snowfalls per year. When there is a real snowfall, commuter transportation is seriously disrupted.
On Sunday, the 8th of February, there was a moderate snowfall of about 5 cm. It caused some disruption to university entrance exams. However, it appeared to have little impact on the Lower House election that gave Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the ruling government the first “super majority” (two-thirds of the seats in the Lower House of the Diet) in postwar electoral history.
The snow was predicted in advance, and a record number of voters took advantage of the generous provision for voting early, as my wife and I did.
Meanwhile, well before it had stopped snowing, I bundled up and put on the shoes I use for hiking. With two cameras, I set out to take photos that would show what a difference snow makes to both formal gardens and rather mundane neighborhoods in Tokyo.
In the Neighborhood
I knew from past experience that both Rikugien and Kyu-Furukawa Teien would provide striking material for photographs. But I also wanted to see what I could find along the way.
The snow made even random growth in a vacant lot look attractive.
In Somei Reien (Somei Cemetery), snow on palm fronds was particularly striking.
The O-jizo-sama (guardian of children, travelers, and souls of the departed) statues in Somei Saifuku Temple had a particular charm with the crowns given them by the snow.
Rikugien
At this time of year, Rikugien garden, created between 1695 and 1702, has no traces of what it is most famous for. Those are its sakura blossoms and autumn colors. Nonetheless, there was a steady stream of visitors, including Chinese-speaking tourists who had come to view scenery reminiscent of Chinese monochrome paintings.
The famous shidare-zakura that greets you at the entrance was devoid of blossoms and leaves, but it was nonetheless striking.
The photos below look like they are monochrome, but that’s how the scene appeared to the naked eye on February 8.
Snow and ice made even the leaves of common plants into works of art.
Kyu-Furukawa Teien
As was the case with Rikugien, the most noted botanical attractions of Kyu-Furukawa Teien, its large rose garden and two rose beds at the west and south sides of its English-style mansion had nothing in bloom. Only the outline of the rose garden was visible.
The snow made the mansion that much more impressive. It made me feel I was back in Sheffield, where one can see several somewhat similar mansions built for 19th-century entrepreneurs.
The formal Japanese garden that is a counterpoise to the English-style mansion and rose garden also provided striking scenes. These were much more photogenic than the same spots in the winter when there is no snow.
Getting There
Rikugien is a 7-minute walk from Komagome Station (JR Yamanote Line and Tokyo Metro).
Kyu-Furukawa Teien is a 7-minute walk from Kaminakazato Station (JR Keihin-Tohoku Line) and the Nishigahara Station (Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line). Both are on the same street in opposite directions from the Komagome Station. It takes about 18 minutes to walk the 1.3 km from one to the other.
Adult admission to Rikugien is ￥300 JPY ($2 USD), and Kyu-Furukawa Teien is ￥150 ($1). A joint admission ticket is available for ￥400 ($1.50). There are discounts for seniors and children.
Conclusion
Photographing while it is snowing is a challenge. The falling snow confused the auto focus software in my camera, and I ended up with several out-of-focus shots. It was also bitterly cold when I started, although it warmed up later. My hands rapidly turned red and numb whenever I took off my gloves to use my cameras.
Nonetheless, I found the experience exhilarating and was gratified to see others doing the same, especially at Rikugien.
It remains to be seen whether there will be another snowfall in Tokyo in 2026. But if there is, I would encourage others to follow my example. Bundle up, wear appropriate shoes or boots, and walk carefully. Enjoy.
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Author: Earl H Kinmonth
Photographs by EH Kinmonth.
Find other stories about Tokyo and nearby areas by Dr Kinmonth.
