Monday Morning Star Count

Today is a national holiday in Japan, in honor of the Emperor’s birthday. He is 66 years old today.

I made nine new hexagon flowers this week. I continue making more hexagons with all my small bits of fabric.

Atami Castle

This is a totally fake castle. There was never a castle here, and it was built as a tourist attraction in 1959. The admission is 1200 yen. 

The first floor is the Samurai Culture Museum, with displays of armor, swords, and matchlock guns, and is the best part of the castle, in my opinion. Other floors include the Japanese Castle Museum, the Ukiyo-e Erotic Art Exhibition, World of Rebus, Touch and Try Edo Corner, and the Panoramic Observation Tower.

Mind Your Manners on the Train

Matsumoto Museum of Art - Yayoi Kusama

This museum is famous for the work of Yayoi Kusama. I had seen her work before, but knew nothing about her. 

According to Wikipedia, she was born March 22, 1929 and is a Japanese contemporary artist who primarily works in sculpture and installation. She was raised in Matsumoto and trained at the Kyoto City University of Arts. She moved to New York City in 1958 and embraced the hippie culture of the 1960’s. She returned to Japan in 1973.

The outside of the museum features her work.

Photos were only allowed in one room of her exhibit - the yellow pumpkin room.

I really enjoyed this exhibit and would see it again, if I had the chance.

Matsumoto Castle Tour

Walking to the castle, I saw a small building with a table in front and a sign offering free tours in English.

Matsumoto is one of the 12 original castles.

Since the pandemic, the volunteer guides have not been able to guide inside the castle, so we said goodbye before I entered the castle. Mitsuto san was a knowledgeable and entertaining guide.

I visited Matsumoto Castle in 2018, and posted pictures of the inside of the castle then. Check it out of you are interested in seeing the inside. When I visited in 2018, the entry ticket was 610 yen. Now it is 1300 yen! 

Information about the castle can be found online here.