Gion District at Dusk, Kyoto, Japan — The preserved machiya townhouses lining Hanamikoji Street in Gion have hosted geiko (geisha) arts since the Edo period. At dusk the district transforms, paper lanterns illuminating lacquered facades as geiko and maiko in silk kimono make their way to exclusive ochaya (teahouse) engagements.
© shankar s., CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
