Tokyo National Museum

Shortened day today due to the observance of Holy Friday, when we went back to our apartment mid day for a time of quiet and contemplation.

That aside, we making a dry run to Tokyo Station to find the shinkansen gates for our trip to Osaka. Yes, a time waster as we didn't get lost like we have been, and getting to the gates was easier than the videos portray.

Next, the National Museum Japanese collection. Unfortunately part of the upper floor was closed. Nice pieces, including a temporary exhibition on Christian art from Nagasaki in the 1500s. Included in this were many figurines of Kannon, bodhisattva of Mercy, who stood in as a representation of Theotokos/ Virgin Mary. The artifacts were seized during the persecutions of the Tokugawa period.

The sword blade and and separate hilt were said to have been used to kill demons in Kyoto.

There were some amazing things you couldn't photograph and I didn't.Read more