Winter's first snow dusts Golden Pavilion

ERINA ITO, THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

2008/12/27

Winter's first snow dusts Golden Pavilion (ERINA ITO/ THE ASAHI SHIMBUN)

Kyoto's famed Kinkakuji temple looks resplendent Friday after the season's first dusting of snow. Snowflakes fell across wide areas, especially along the Sea of Japan and in mountainous areas. The day brought unstable atmospheric conditions as a cold air mass invaded the archipelago from the north, bringing first snowfalls to Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and many other cities. In Kyoto, where snow began falling before dawn, the arrival was 12 days later than usual. Meanwhile, temperatures dipped lower than usual in many locales early Friday: Kyoto registered a low of 0.8 degree, Osaka had 3.4 degrees and Kobe 2.3 degrees. From Saturday, however, temperatures are expected to return to normal in the Kansai region as the winter-like atmospheric pressure eases off, according to the Osaka District Meteorological Observatory.(IHT/Asahi: December 27,2008)