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Flying kites is an old tradition of Japan. The Kite Museum Tokyo houses a huge collection of kites of various shapes and varieties from all round the country. The kites are hand-painted in brilliant colors with figures of birds, geometric patterns, and motifs from Chinese and Japanese mythology. Getting to Kite Museum Tokyo Getting to Kite Museum Tokyo is not difficult. The museum is ten-minute walk from the Yaesu central exit of the Tokyo station. It is one-minute walk from the exit "C5" of the Nihonbashi subway station. About the Museum Kites have a long history in Japan. In three cramped rooms filled with the aroma of bamboo, travelers to Tokyo can discover an art form that has flourished in Japan for centuries. The Kite Museum in Nihonbashi features kites from all over the country, China and other Asian countries. The Kite Museum is called "TAKO-NO-HAKUBUTSUKAN' in Japanese. The museum mainly exhibit strange conventional Japanese kites called "Edo Nishiki-E Dako", and other Japanese kites along with various kites from China and other Asian countries. The museum occupies the 5th floor of the Taimeiken, a popular restaurant in Tokyo. The patron of this museum was the former owner of this restaurant, Shingo Modegi. This museum covers a smaller area in comparison with other kite museums which has been recently opened in Japan. The total collection of the museum is 3,000. This museum is commonly known as one of the unique museums in the world. The Japan Kite Association has its head office in the museum. Collection of Kites in the Museum A remote rectangular kite saturated by aged reds, oranges and blues used to picture what seem to be two samurai on a raft sinking beneath swelling waves as a figure dressed in gold hovers threateningly above them will catch your eye, as you enter the museum. The kites in the museum like most Edo Kaku kites, look alike folkloric paintings telling stories of past heroes and myth. If you move closer to the vitrine consisting of the Edo Kaku, passing under bird like kites hanging from the ceiling occasionally swooping to brush a head, that their true identity is revealed by the multiple strings used to guide them in the air. The Kite Museum has more to see than just Edo Kaku. You will get to see on one aisle a rumpled stuffed bird with paper wings which makes it ghastly while not far away a collection of 12 smaller Eto Dako celebrate the oriental zodiac. Buying Kites You can buy kites in this unique museum. The Museum sells small souvenir kites priced $20 and above. These are made from bamboo and washi (a Japanese paper made from a variety of mulberry tree and traditionally used along with bamboo to make kites). More expensive kites are also sold here which are made by master craftsmen that retail at $70 - $300. Opening Hours The Kite Museum remains open from 11 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday except on National Holidays. The Kite Museum is an example of a businessman's hobby which has been delivered for public perusal. There are works in progress by an on-site kite maker. Amid the miscellaneous Japanese and international kites and kite supplies is an eye-catching model of a Japanese war-plane. So step into this amazing museum and get lost in the world of various kites.
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