Winter-Wate

Maybe I'm just used to the Japanese cold or maybe this winter just hasn't been as icy as last year. It's hard to tell. I like to think I've adapted, but that doesn't seem realistic.

Either way, I'm enjoying the beauty of the season. Back in Maryland, an inch of snow around Christmastime was a miracle and the closest we came to a white Christmas around our house was usually watching Bing Crosby croon on TV.

Not exactly "White Christmas"

And for the record, we proudly watched the original VHS tape in dazzling Technicolor.

But here in Japan, the snow falls thick and fast time time of year. Already, the roads are packed solid with snow and I won't be seeing pavement until spring. Homes and apartments are cocooned in bubble-wrap. Christmas cakes and fried chicken are whisking out the door faster than you can say "ほほほ."

In the midst of it all, I'm finally on my winter vacation. The general belief is that Christmas is a couple's holiday, here. While there is a Christian presence in most towns, it's small, and Christmas is seen as more of a novelty like Halloween: just something to dress up in cute costumes for. Oh yes, there are costumes. Mostly revealing Santa outfits for the girls.

But some cities take Christmas to heart, mostly for marketing, but they do have events. One of the most famous is the Sendai Starlight Pageant. Every year, the Jozenji Street is decorated with thousands of gold LED tree lights. The tree-lined avenue is lit for the entire evening for a couple weeks right up until Christmas. Thousands of people travel to Sendai to walk the avenue, marvel at the lights and wait for the "Starlight Wink" when the lights all go dark and after a moment of breathless silence, Christmas music begins to play and the lights flare to life! It's really very beautiful under that golden glow.

Where do trees end and sky begin?

 I missed it last year but was so glad I made the trip myself this time around. I booked a night at a hostel and spent the evening walking around bustling Sendai enjoying the holiday season.

Still have mixed feelings 'bout bean pillows

Umebachi Guesthouse upper floor commonspace

No overnight stay is complete without manga!

Christmas might be for "lovers," but even though the ones I love are far away, I was feeling it.