Pop Japan

 

Photo by Wiiii and licensed under Creative Commons

 

Museums usually refer to the institution, place, or organisation that collects artifacts of cultural and historical value. These houses and buildings of important objects have their specialities or niches. In Japan, you can find various museums that collect more than historical things. Here are they:

 

Note: Due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, the associated opening hours and days could be affected or adjusted.

 

Stone museum - Museum of rocks resembling faces

An odd museum in Chichibu, Japan houses stones of various sizes, shapes and – human expressions. Sound like an artist secretly carved each of the stones, but it seems they are a type of pareidolia which is the ability of humans to see faces on random objects such as clouds, trees, and even household items. The stones earned their fame through their semblances of famous personalities such as Elvis Priestley and Donkey Kong.

 

 

Poop Museum (Unko Museum)

Poop has been associated with everything unsanitary and excreta. On the other hand, it’s used in art and scatological humour, You can find here such as poop smileys, lavatories, poop-shaped houses, poop-topped cakes, toilets, and games made “kawaii”. 

 

Umberto’s room - Wandering at toilet-shaped doorway, you’ll meet Unbert, the museum’s guardian deity. 

Unko factory - Thighs showcases poop-shaped products and decorations. 

Interactive area - This is where you can play arcade games and step onto projected poops on the ground.

Unstagenic area - Giant and small-sized poop dominate this area, where you can learn all poopy facts of the world.

 

Website (English): https://unkomuseum.com/en/tokyo/ 

Website (Japanese): https://unkomuseum.com/tokyo/ 

 

Opening hours: 10: am - 9:00 pm 

 

Address:  Japan, 〒135-0064 Tokyo, Koto City, Aomi, 1 Chome−1−10 ダイバーシティ東京プラザ

 

Meguro Parasitological Museum  

If you’re not squeamish with nasty facts of life, then this place should be on your bucket list. The Meguro Museum houses a vast number of specimens including insects and worms that affect animals and humans. In biological terms, parasites refer to an organism that depends on a host animal to survive. Such dependence often harms the host either by sucking up nutrients or cause physiological problems. Common parasites include Ascaris, copepods, fluke, and tapeworm.

 

Website (English): https://www.kiseichu.org/e-top 

Website (Japanese): https://www.kiseichu.org/ 

 

Admission: Free, Donations accepted

Opening hours and days: 10 am to 5 pm. Monday, Tuesday, New Year holidays

Address: Meguro Parasitological Museum

153-0064 4-1-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

 

Love Doll Museum 

As the name says, this museum houses dolls used for satisfying someone’s libido or sexual urges. The displays were meant as a work of art or for artistic care and devotion. If you’re a minor or under the age of 18, you may not visit this museum. 

Website: http://blog.livedoor.jp/hyodo_shasin/ 

Address” 1036-2, Koshinden, Yashio-shi, Saitama

 

Cat Museum 

Cats are loved and popular in Japan, so they have a special place in the country. For cat lovers, this place is a dreamland. You can find all things feline – alive and dead (stuffed & skeletons).  The museum categorised its displays into the following:

 

• Extinct cats - Specimen displays of extinct species such as Cabrion and Saber tooth tiger.

• Wild cat world - Exhibits 28 out of 38 wild cats worldwide.

• Cat museum - Showcases arts and crafts related to cats.

• Cats in the world - Introduces 40 animals and 20 species of rare cat species.

 

Website: http://nekohaku.pandora.nu/index.html 

Opening hours: 9:00 to 5:00 pm, Last admission is 4:30 pm

Google Map: 7-600, Omuro-Kogen, Ito-shi, Shizuoka 

Telephone: 0557-51-5133

 

Ramen Museum

Ramen is a complete meal on its own as it contains noodles (carbohydrates), vegetables (fibre) and meat (protein). This dedicated place to Japan’s famous dish introduces ramen varieties and toppings. You can also glimpse the replica of the ramen-shop-lined streets of the 1950s. Besides that, you can find a cafe, gallery, and museum shop. 

 

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/aFfN1Au7ENwwKBt37 

Address: 2-chōme-14-21 Shinyokohama, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 222-0033, Japan 

Website: http://www.raumen.co.jp/english/ 

 

Trick art museum

Trick arts refer to illusions that fool your eye or mind into thinking about different objects. One popular trick is to make a person appear small in relation to the room corner. You could also pose beside a photo as if you’re interacting with it. The museum presents areas such as the Edo period, Japanese monsters and a trick art gallery.

 

Website: https://www.trickart.info/english/index.html 

Address: Decks Tokyo Beach Seaside mall 4F 1-6-1, Daiba,

Minato-ku, Tokyo, 135-0091, Japan

Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/2nuj7DQazJgRwpfg6