"Sake" tasting event held in Buddhist temple

Visitors at a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, western Japan, have enjoyed Japanese sake served in lotus leaves.

Mimurotoji Temple in Uji City serves sake around this time of year, when 100 varieties of lotuses in its garden are in full bloom. Mimurotoji is called the "temple of flowers" for its wide floral variety.

On Friday, temple officials poured sake into lotus leaves about 40 centimeters in diameter.

The liquid goes through tiny holes in the stem and can be drunk from the opposite end.

Sake filtered through lotus stems is said to bring good health and longevity.

One woman who tried the sake said she'd been told that it tasted bitter, but that it was actually sweet and tasty.