This is Matcha, a green tea served at the world-famous Ippodo Tea House. The tea comes as a powder, and you use the bamboo whisk to stir in hot water, creating a potent, thick concoction. The tea particles don't actually dissolve in the hot water; you drink it before they settle to the bottom of the tea bowl.  

Geishas in traditional garb on the streets of Kyoto near Kiyomizu-dera Temple.  

A seemingly-endless series of bright orange torii (traditional Japanese gates) line the 1.5-mile footpath at Fushimi Inari-taisha Temple. The design might look familiar to those who saw Christo and Jeanne-Claude's 'Gates' project in New York City's Central Park—they drew their inspiration for their 7,503 curtained gates from this Kyoto landmark.  

Yasui Konpiragu, also known as the Break-Up Shrine. Tradition dictates that you offer a prayer, post your rite on the igloo-shaped shrine, crawl in, and then back out to trigger the desired separation. Ironically, there's a 'Love Hotel,' with rooms are available by the hour, just outside the temple grounds.  

Plagues at Shakuzo-ji Temple.  

Two sculptures that flank the entrance to a store in downtown Kyoto.  

These figures were part of the modern-era exhibit in the light festival held each March at Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Each one stands at about the height of an index figure.  

This sculpture was constructed out of wide-capped mushrooms stacked up about five feet tall in an oblique column that was then lit from inside to create an eerie organic, orange glow.  

Two police men pause for a rest during the light festival.  

An escalator warning sign in a four-story downtown arcade.  

Plum blossoms arching over a quiet Kyoto street near Kiyomizu-dera Temple.