I am preparing to move to Niigata this winter to be with my wife and child whom I've been separated from until now due to COVID-19. Very excited but now I am getting a little nervous. I wanted to ask if any in the group have experience living in Niigata or any place in Snow Country. Any tips on what to wear (ie: should I buy ski goggles for working in the snow?), how to stay warm, how to make sure Iβm a good neighbor during winter would be much appreciated. I am originally from Colorado and am used to cold/snowy weather. However I understand Niigata is on a totally different level and have visited Niigata before but I've learned it was an extremely mild winter in 2020. Much appreciated to all who can lend some advice.
FLAIRED USERS ONLY
Untoan Temple is a Buddhist temple in Minami-uonuma, Niigata, Japan. It has very tall cedar trees lining the path to the main building. I went in winter 2020 and it had a lot of snow. The day I went, it wasn't so cold and the paths were clear of snow, but everything else was completely covered. There was only a few others there, and it was so silent and peaceful. The cards still have a slight scent of incense. You can see a ton of photos on Google Maps.
The card set is 8 postcards. The numbering is from left to right, top to bottom.
1 is the εΊ§η¦ ε (zazen-do), a room where the monks sat in kneeling position and had strict ascetic practice.
2 is a big amount of snow on the main hall exterior. This is what it looked like when I went.
3 is the main hall interior, registered as a Niigata Prefectural Cultural Property.
4 is fall foliage.
5 is the bridge (ε€ͺιΌζ©) with the zazen-do in the background.
6 is the room where Uesugi Kagekatsu and Naoe Kanetsugu are said to have studied in.
7 This is the path from the red gate (akamon) to the main hall. Buried underneath are stones which each have one character of the Lotus Sutra carved on them, giving rise to the phrase: "Have you stood on the soil of Untoan?"
8 is the red gate. In ancient times it would only be opened for Imperial Household members and daimyo visiting.
This offer is a luck-of-the-draw style. You can request one or more cards, in order of preference. I will pick the winners later on via a random comment picker. Please indicate whether you want to exchange. This has no bearing on whether or not you will be chosen.
Hi japanlifers,
As title suggests, I've got myself a minivan, without the AWD option. I've driven in snowy conditions before, but it was either AWD/FWD + winter tires. Of course, snow chains will be carried in case of harsher conditions, but I remember having issues with FWD in icy conditions before (chains helped somewhat in the end).
Any drivers with RWD winter riding experience to/from ski-resorts during Dec-March ski season?
-edit: grammar
