Geta are a form of traditional Japanese footwear that resembles both clogs and flip-flops. They are a kind of sandal with an elevated wooden base held onto the foot with a fabric thong to keep the foot well above the ground. They are worn with traditional Japanese clothing such as kimono or yukata, and even with Western clothing during the summer months. Geta are often worn in rain or snow to keep the feet dry, due to their extra height.

Taizo-in, one of the many sub-temples at Myoshinji Temple, is well-known for its spectacular Japanese gardens but also for opening its doors to visitors and casual tourists in order to teaching Zen Buddhism, including "Zen Experience" visits which include calligraphy sessions, tea ceremony, and a vegetarian lunch called shojin ryori - a special gourmet assortment of vegetarian dishes.

Traditional Japanese tea kettles. Though Toji Temple dates from the 7th century, it comes to life once a month on the 21st during its lively flea market. Though often called Toji Antique Market, in fact goods of all descriptions, including food, are in abundance here.

Drinking Tea - Japanese green tea, or ocha is the most common drink in Japan. Not only is it loaded with vitamin C and caffeine but its antioxidant and healthy properties are making this drink a hit all around the world.

Japanese Window with chrysanthemums. Japanese traditional architecture makes use of shapes, contours, and spaces to create an effect that is purely Japanese. Windows play an important part as the indoor/outdoor motif is usually a part of the overall style.

Kennin-ji Temple is Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple. The temple is a perfect stop when exploring Gion. One of the temple’s most attractive features, apart from its superb garden, are the dragons painted on the ceiling of the temple's main hall.

Arashiyama Station’s “Kimono Forest” is a colorful aspect of the station’s facelift includes designer Yasumichi Morita creations of kimono fabric patterns arranged on cylindrical columns. The patterns have been placed inside 600 illuminated poles along pathways of the station, creating a “kimono forest”.

Kinkakuji was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. He intended to cover the exterior with gold, but only managed to coat the third floor with gold leaf before his death. After his death, his son converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji in accordance with Ashikaga's wishes.

Chikurin-no-Michi or the Path of Bamboo is long path of bamboo trees in Arashiyama behind Tenryuji Temple. The scene appears frequently on Japanese TV dramas and in Japanese movies,particularly those set in Kyoto.

Apprentice geisha are called maiko literally "dance child". It is the maiko, with her white make-up and elaborate kimono and hairstyle, that has become the stereotype of a geisha to Westerners. Geiko as they are called in Kyoto (Geisha elsewhere in Japan) are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.

Ninnaji Temple Monks - Ninnaji is one of Kyoto's most interesting temples with a large variety of extraordinary buildings & gardens on its spacious grounds. Among the numerous buildings on the grounds are elegant palace style buildings surrounded by beautiful Japanese gardens, a five storied pagoda, various temple halls, a massive entrance gate, bell tower and tea houses. It was the first imperial temple in Kyoto and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Chestnuts at Nishiki Market - the narrow shopping street made up of more than one hundred vendors. Various kinds of fresh foods including many Kyoto specialties such as pickles and Japanese sweets, as well as fresh seafood and vegetables are sold. Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen" Nishiki Market's history goes back several centuries and many stores have been operated by the same families for generations.

The Moss Garden at Saihoji Temple is one of the few temples in Kyoto where visitors must request an invitation in advance before their visit. Visitors are required to participate in chanting and writing wishes before visiting the famous gardens. In this way the monks are able to maintain the temple and garden and prevent mass tourism from destroying the tranquility of the moss garden.

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji is a Buddhist temple in Arashiyama near Kyoto that features over 1200 stone Rakan or disciples of Buddhism that were carved from across Japan under the guidance of sculptor Kocho Nishimura. Each sculpture is a display of expressive faces and gestures that still manage to translate through the moss that covers them.

Philosophers Path; Ikutaro Nishida and Hajime Kawakami, former professors at Kyoto University, used to walk along Tetsugaku-no-Michi, or Path of Philosophy in meditation - thus its name. This two-kilometer path which follows a canal, runs from Ginkaku - ji Temple to Wakaoji-Shrine. Cherry and maple trees line the small canal forming a tunnel of cherry blossoms in the spring and colorful maple leaves in the fall.

Shisendo is both a hermitage and garden in eastern Kyoto established by Jozen Ishikawa, a scholar and landscape architect. After he retired from samurai service he devoted the rest of his life to learning Chinese classics. When he was 59 he built his masterpiece as a retirement villa which has come to be known as Shisendo.

Shoji at Taizo-in Temple - In traditional Japanese architecture a shoji is a door, window or room divider made of translucent paper over a frame of wood or bamboo. 
Shoji doors are designed to slide open, and thus conserve space that would be required by a swinging door. They are used in traditional houses especially in the washitsu or Japanese-style room.

Tatami with Golden Fusuma at Shunkoin, a subtemple of Myoshinji Temple, was one of the most important places for Japanese Zen Buddhism in the early 20th century. Several sliding door panels at Shunkoin were painted by Eigaku Kano of the renowned Kano School of painting. Some of the paintings have Confucian themes as Confucianism was important to samurai during the Edo period when these paintings were made.