Red in the snow

You have to prepare for snowfall in Kyoto simply because there isn't much of it.

 Even if there's enough snow to send photographers rushing to Kinkaku-ji to take that classic shot of the golden pavilion under white, chances are, it'll melt in hours.

 So you need to decide in advance, maybe in autumn, where to go if winter decides to be generous. This year, Shinsen-en, a garden near Nijo castle, made it to the top of my list.

 This is the shot I wanted.

A closer look at the bridge.

And one of the camellias in the snow.

Smiling though his lap must have been cold.