japan toy museum folk toys

japan toy museum: plaster figurines

more japan toy museum vintage folk toys

japan toy museum: vintage regional folk toys including kokeshi dolls, daruma figures, paper fish and a plaster dog.

japan toy museum china dolls

japan toy museum: china baby dolls

japan toy museum showa era toys

japan toy museum: showa era painted wooden toys

himeji castle

himeji castle, built in the 16th century, is both beautiful and imposing. i was particularly taken by the surprisingly modernist sculptural white plaster walls with round, square and triangular shaped defensive holes perforating them.

marishiten temple

we found this ornate temple on the edge of gion. marishiten, the diety enshrined there, rides a wild boar [inu shishi] thus the temple was filled with sculptures of fine piggies. the offering trays hold konbu.

namikawa museum

i finally visited the namikawa cloissonne museum which is directly across the street from our house. in fact, our landlady is mrs. namikawa. her grandfather-in-law founded the workshop which was famous for its extraordinarily delicate and beautiful work.