Tea leaves in Kumamoto wrapped in ice

At a tea plantation in Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, it's not just people bundling up for the cold weather. When the temperature drops below zero, tea leaves can suffer damage from frost. But a layer of ice can offer protection from the freezing air.

That's why a tea grower made sure to water the crop the day before the cold weather blew in. The effect transforms the plants, making them look like they're covered in bubbles of ice. The leaves are said to be as safe from the cold as a person wearing a down jacket.