Kyoto Police, Farewells and Museums

Ted took me to the police station after breakfast to pick up my purse. They were very friendly to us.  Apparently an elderly Japanese lady found it in the bushes by her home and brought it in. She was very upset about because she thinks foreigners have such a hard time in Japan they don't need something like this happening to them.  Ted called her and thanked her on my behalf.

Personal crime rates are so low compared to other countries I think police may have a different role attitude here.  My second police story is when Leonard and Alison were exploring and needed a washroom they stopped at the police station to ask where one might be and were told to come in and use their own.  When Leonard came out Alison was surrounded by half a dozen policemen with maps spread out showing her where the best places to buy antiques would be.  The kindness and gentleness of people is amazing to all of us.

I can feel myself winding down. Almost all the group left at noon but not before we made up an email list so people could be in touch with each other later.  I  packed up and was moved to another room then Liza, who is also staying on, and I headed out for the Netsuke Museum.  Netsuke are miniature sculptures of folklore, animals and everyday life. It has been pouring rain for two days so we took a taxi.  The driver had trouble finding it but once we got there it was well worth the visit. There was a video showing how they were crafted and there were magnifying glasses in front of some of them to show the detail. They were just wonderful.

We stopped for a yucky noodle lunch then, as it was still pouring, took another taxi to the Kyoto National Museum for the Rinpa Exhibit.  There was an art movement that started at the beginning of the Edo period and lasted through the 1800's. It is famous for its sometimes dramatic yet almost modern display gold/green nature screens, expressive faces, and stamp poetry pages posted on painting scrolls. There was also a buddha exhibit to finish it off  The lineups just to get in have been 2 hours long. We were lucky not to have to wait but the crowds were still big and slow moving. There were lots of Chinese as well as Japanese there as the time period Japan was heavily influenced by their art.  We stayed until 6 then a quick rest and to dinner for good food and good talks.

Today was too dark and rainy for pictures and the museums won't allow photography. I can feel myself winding down.  If there weren't things I needed to do I would have wanted to go home with the others.