Random images from Kyoto

A couple random images from Kyoto...

Real mochi!  The real stuff is made by pounding glutinous rice with this huge hammer.  His partner turns and wets the mochi in between hammer strikes.  The fake stuff is what we normally eat, mochi made from powder.  I like them both.  ;)

 

Hello Kitty stamps!  I couldn't resist buying these; they are the cutest stamps I've ever seen!

 

Scallops from Nishiki market: What an amazing dish!  They cooked the scallop just right, and we got to try all the parts of the scallop, not just the usual meat.  The stem (?) of the scallop was very chewy and quite delicious.

 

Snail: not really my thing, but interesting to try.