On January 18^th we held the latest Kan x Kan Lecture to find the warm wind cave at Mt. Kannon. It had snowed the day before, so it was easy to see where the wind cave was because it was the only spot where the snow had melted. You could also feel the temperature difference of the warm air flowing through the cave.

As we headed towards the wind cave, we talked about the Mt. Kannon Cherry Blossom Festival.

I had also found a book at the library that introduced wind caves in Shimonita and the Naeba foothills on Japan's main island of Honshu that are utilized for silkworm production.

We could see Oyako-iwa (Parent & Child Rocks) from Mt. Kannon.

The snow was melted only around the wind cave. The air was warm to the touch and the thermometer said the wind was 9C (even though the outside air was in the negative numbers).

A curator from the Samani Folk Museum also talked about insects that can be found around wind caves.

Melted snow around the wind cave.


We also stopped by the observation deck. The icicles were so long, it makes you want to grab one.

The red Wright viburnum berries really stood out. I also heard the call of a great spotted woodpecker.

I created a path in the snow for safety purposes. Here is the before photo...

...and the after photo

I was so exhilarated after finishing the path in the snow, that I decided to make a snow angel as well.