Keihoku, Kyoto, Japan

Keihoku, Kyoto, Japan. This photograph, showing the river under snow, is also in Keihoku, a region of Kyoto city up in the mountains before you reach the Sea of Japan. The village of Shimokuroda and its people safely protect the flowing rivers that feed into greater cities like Osaka and Kyoto. Farmers and residents gather regularly to clean up any landslides and clear up river channels. Image courtesy of Chika Kondo.