Photo= Families take pictures of the recently repaired, snow-covered Phoenix Hall (Byodo-in Temple, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture)

Due to the heavy snow on New Year's Day, "Ho-o-do," or the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in Temple in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, a National Treasure on which the "Heisei Era major repairs" were completed last fall, turned pure white. Many families and tourists visiting the temple on January 2 took pictures of the red-and-white temple.

The temple's pillars and doors were repainted a reddish-brown during the two-year restoration. Snow covered the temple for the first time since the restoration. The pair of gilded phoenixes was also covered with snow; the golden bodies contrasting beautifully against the white comb.

A 74-year-old man, visiting from Fukui Prefecture with his wife, said with deep feeling, "Phoenix Hall in snow looks very solemn. I may have no other chance to see a scene like this in my life."