In mid-April 1891 Percy Cotton moved on to Japan on his trip around the World. He travelled by boat from Shanghai, landing at Kobe. He visited Osaka and travelled by train to Kyoto where he visited many of the temples and sights.

This photograph is simply titled “A village near Kyoto” and while his journal  reads “… through a pretty village, took photo..” he does not say the name.  This visit to Japan left him with a lifelong interest in all things Japanese. He found his first examples of Netsuke on the trip, later buying a large collection in London. The intricately carved figures now delight our Museum visitors as they did Percy. 

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