Snow Piling Up On Stone Lanterns

Stone Lanterns make some of the most unusual and beautiful garden ornaments. Steeped in a rich history, Japanese stone lanterns are both functional and beautiful and full of the charm and allure of the orient. Some of the most beautiful scenes of Japanese Stone Lanterns must be during winter time when the snow piles up high on top of the lantern. The Yukimi or Snow Viewing Lantern is especially designed for this with its wide roof over the light compartment. Sometimes the roof can be up to two meters across, and made very simply or created with intricate lattice work on them. The functional aspects of the large roof are obvious – to keep the snow from extinguishing the light, but the snow viewing lanterns have become more than that, and are often designed with the intention of collecting snow on top of them so that, in a way, the art and beauty of the lantern is even more complete when snow gently settles on top.