A rare snow day in Chigasaki

As warm days tended to make trees begin to blossom, a sudden cold front brought a rare snow day in Chigasaki.

Last month, we had a rare snow day here in Chigasaki.

I lived in Maui for nearly 30 years, so experiencing a snow day still feels very special to me. The coastal area of Kanagawa Prefecture, where I now live, is known for its warm and mild climate. When I realized that I had moved from a Maui-like place in Japan to the real Maui all those years ago, the thought struck me with a smile.

Maui, Hawai‘i, is sometimes called the paradise of endless summer. We often say, “It’s cold today,” while wearing shorts and flip-flops in mid-60s Fahrenheit weather—and everyone around us laughs.

One thing I quietly looked forward to when moving back to Japan was the changing of the seasons—and the chance to experience a real snow day.

After two winters here, it finally happened. A heavy snow alert was issued, and snow began falling steadily outside.

It lasted only a few hours, but the continuous snowfall gently blanketed our neighborhood in white. To my eyes, it felt almost miraculous. The snow softened every sound, and the town became strangely, beautifully quiet.

Japanese neighborhood covered in snow

Snap dragon and snow

snow covered leaves

leaves are decorated by snow

icicles on a fence

a rural Japanese neighborhood covered with snow

Ojizo-sama topped with snow

Plum blossoms with snow in Japanese buddhist temple

Yuzu tree covered by snow

Snow covered Japanese farm land by the hill

snow covered Japanese farm land

snow man created by kids

a red mail box topped with snow in Japan

Snow covered red camellia in Japan

I couldn’t resist grabbing my camera and stepping outside. Every corner of the neighborhood looked different under the thin blanket of snow—the familiar streets suddenly transformed into something delicate and new. Even ordinary scenes seemed to hold a quiet elegance.

Snow in Chigasaki may be rare and short-lived, but perhaps that is exactly why it feels so magical.