(Entered December 7, 2000)

Thanks to Paul Boyd

TOKYO (Reuters) - More than 50,000 people have visited a museum near Tokyo dedicated to John Lennon in the two months since it opened, a museum official said Thursday, December 7.

``As of the end of November, there had been around 53,000 visitors,'' the official said. ``This is absolutely astonishing, way beyond our expectations.''

The museum, built in a corner of a huge arena in Yono, 15 miles north of Tokyo, was approved by Yoko, who was present for its opening on October 9 -- which would have been John's 60th birthday.

Beatles music plays as visitors view some 130 items that once belonged to John. Most were donated by Yoko, including family photos, an old driver's license and passport, handwritten lyrics for songs and his trademark wire-rimmed spectacles.

On the final white wall by the exit, in raised white characters, is written the date ``December 8, 1980'' -- the day John was killed outside his New York apartment.

The museum has designated December 8-10 as memorial days and will host a number of special events, including providing a corner in which fans can offer flowers in John's memory.

``From mid-December we will also display the original score for 'Happy Christmas','' the museum official said.

Some people complained when it was first announced where the museum would be located - Yono is a so-called unfashionable town in the midst of the urban sprawl that surrounds Japan's largest metropolis.

Fans, though, have few complaints.

``Everyone appears to go home quite happy,'' the museum official said.