Photo= The snow-covered "Obutai" spreading across Higashiyama which was shot by an unmanned aerial vehicle (January 16, Shogunzuka Seiryu-den, Yamashina Ward, Kyoto)

The Higashiyama scenic highway has long been popular as a night view spot in Kyoto. It is famous for views of a glamorous, luminous landscape shining pure white against jet-black darkness.

Thanks to the cold wave from January 13 to 15, Kyoto City has been totally covered with snow. "Obutai," or a huge stage, was also blanketed in snow at Seiryu-den, a grand hall for burning holy sticks of invocation, in the former Shogun-zuka Dainichi-do temple's garden in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto, an enclave of Shoren-in Temple of Higashiyama Ward.

On an early morning so cold that one could see one's breath, a drone captured the view of Higashiyama area. An enormous white carpet was rolled out over the mountain, and trees were capped with cotton-like snow. Rooftops sparkled as snow on them melted a little under the morning sunshine.

"Obutai," a huge wooden stage that is 4.7 times the area of a tennis court, was completed in 2014 at Seiryu-den, which enshrines "Ao-Fudo Myo-o Nidoji Zo," a Buddhist painting designated as a national treasure which depicts Blue Cetaka with two children. Many people enjoy the panoramic view of Kyoto City from the new tourist spot.

Though concerned about damage caused by the snowfall in various areas, Koshin Higashifushimi, the temple's 39 year-old chief steward, said, "We hope people will appreciate Kyoto's winter landscape from this stage."

The refined monochrome beauty somehow brings warmth.