Spoiling the Imperial Palace Winter Scene?

A cold wave has brought unusually harsh chill. On the 26th, Tokyo's low was minus 1 degree Celsius, 3.2 degrees below normal—the coldest this season.

Thanks to the cold, ice covers the moat before Palaceside Building. Not fully frozen, but the ice seemed thicker that day.

With the East Gardens closed this Friday, few crossed Hirakawa-mon Bridge south of the building; shadows on Hirakawa moat ice felt all the colder. At Shimizu moat west of the building, a volleyball and litter lay on the ice—who knows who dropped them. A shame to spoil the beautiful winter scene at the Imperial Palace.