When most people think of Kyoto, they picture cherry blossoms and temples. What they don't expect is the bone-chilling cold that descends during winter. Despite being at roughly the same latitude as my hometown, Kyoto's winters feel significantly colder.
The reason lies in Kyoto's unique geography and traditional architecture. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the city sits in a basin that traps cold air. Combined with traditional houses built for summer heat rather than winter cold, you end up with a surprisingly challenging winter environment.
As someone who works from home, I've had to adapt my setup for these conditions. My coding sessions now involve multiple layers, a kotatsu, and strategic placement of space heaters. It's a reminder that sometimes the most challenging aspect of remote work isn't the technology, but the environment you're working in.