Tokyo museums

 the Tokyo-Edo museum

tells the history of the city.  Sometimes in a big way, as in the life-sized reconstruction of a kabuki theater entrance.  Sometimes in a small way, as in the minutely detailed dioramas of the life of the city.   

 Greater Tokyo is one of the few places in Japan with a large amount of livable (reasonably flat) space.  Its growth spurt started when Tokugawa established the shogunate, and moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo, which became Tokyo.  Shoguns kept the lords (daimyo) out of trouble by requiring them to visit Edo yearly, on foot.

There were many exhibits on the life and dress of common people.
 

We particularly enjoyed the kabuki costumes.

  We said good-bye to Hikari for the day (she had classes at university), then ate lunch in the museum restaurant overlooking the city.

the Tokyo National museum

keeps many cultural treasures of the nation.  We first visited a collection of Buddhist temple treasures, then went on to the main collection of calligraphy, watercolors, swords, armor, pottery, and many other things. 

 On the way to the metro station we walked through a shrine.  We then took the metro and walked home to Hikari's house.