Fukui's Taichoji Temple in Snow

Silent snow-covered temple off the beaten track

Takako Sakamoto Jan 11, 2015 - 1分鐘閱讀時間

<p>Snow-capped statue of the monk Taicho standing silently on the temple grounds</p>

<p>The stone stairs to Taichoji Temple were all buried in snow</p>

<p>Belfry at the entrance of Taichoji Temple</p>

<p>Main hall of Taichoji Temple in a sleety rain</p>

<p>Close-up look at the snow-capped statue of the monk Taicho. Come rain or come snow, his face is always serene.</p>

<p>Red torii gate of a small Fox Shrine on the temple grounds half buried in snow. Snow blocked me from getting closer to it.</p>

<p>I couldn't get closer to the main hall either</p>

<p>Snow-covered trees in the temple grounds</p>

<p>Temple grounds buried in snow with the statue of the monk Taicho flanked by stone lanterns</p>

<p>Temple grounds covered with knee-deep snow!</p>

<p>Stone marker of Taichoji Temple at the entrance</p>

On January 3rd this year, we had a miraculous sunny day in Fukui, so I ventured out to take some photos at Taichoji Temple, which I also visited in early October last year. However, by the time I reached the temple, the whimsical Fukui weather changed, and I ended up taking photos in a cold, sleety rain. Furthermore, as this temple is generally unknown, nobody had stepped in the snow, meaning, I had to MAKE the pathway with my own legs to explore the snow-buried grounds. However, once I stepped in the knee-deep snow I couldn't move, so I twisted my upper body like a clumsy robot while squatting in the same position, which resulted of course in a severe muscle pain afterward. But I was just happy to see one of my favorite temples in white snow!

Taichoji Temple in Snow

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...