Snow-covered "Kayabuki no Sato" is colored with a subtle gleam (5:40 p.m., January 26, Miyama-cho Kita, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture)

"Yuki To-ro," an event highlighting a community of reed-thatched-roof houses called "Kayabuki" with snow lanterns, started at "Miyama Kayabuki no Sato," Miyama-cho Kita, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture, in the severely cold weather on January 26. Gentle light shone over the village amid the steady snow.

According to the Kyoto Local Meteorological Observatory, a wintry atmospheric pressure pattern brought cold air into Kyoto Prefecture on that day and the lowest temperature recorded in the morning was below zero in Kyoto City and northward. The highest temperatures of the day were 1.3 degrees Celsius in Miyazu City and 2.8 degrees Celsius in Miyama-cho, Nantan City, with temperatures ranging one to five degrees lower than in a normal year across the prefecture.

"Yuki To-ro" is sponsored every year by an executive committee made up from local groups. Staff and visitors made about 250 lantern-shaped snow containers with candles inside and lined them up. They also set up about 70 handmade bamboo lanterns for the first time, as well as about 150 "Andon," or paper-covered open air lanterns.

At around 5:00 p.m., lanterns were lit. Private houses with Kayabuki roofs were also lit up with 18 floodlights. Visitors were fascinated with the silvery village enveloped in light. The light-up event is being held until February 2, from about 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.