Why would anyone want to go and look at tapeworms?
It’s the question I’m asking myself as I walk up to the entrance of this museum in Tokyo.
It’s not any old museum – no history, artwork, demonstrations, or cultural artefacts. This is a museum of parasites: the Meguro Parasitological Museum, to be exact.
As I walk in, I again ask myself the question – why would anyone want to go and look at the tapeworms? Because it seems a lot of people do! The museum is packed and I have to squeeze my way inside.
Now, to put things in perspective, this is not a very big place. There are two levels but neither would be much larger than a double garage.
But still – there are dozens of Japanese people here acting as though it’s perfectly normal to spend their Saturday afternoon surrounded by jars of dead parasites!
You might also be interested in my three-day Tokyo itinerary with lots of tips for planning your trip!
It proudly declares itself to be the world’s first parasitological museum… but I’m not really sure if that’s much of a boast. It’s kind of like bragging you’re the world’s first rabies theme park – of course, you are because nobody else would come up with it!
But a Japanese man named Satoru Kamegai did come up with the idea for this museum in 1953 and it’s been going ever since.
It’s part of a bigger research organisation that has many more specimens than are on display (more than 45,000 in total!). The current building has been used for exhibitions since 1993.
There are scores of jars that glow an eerie blue and inside are all sorts of weird-looking things you’re glad are not inside you. Worms, crabs, bugs, and things with forms I don’t recognise.
Once upon a time, they were all living off someone like us. Most of them look so small and non-threatening so it’s scary to read about the effects these things can have on humans.
Itโs also quite scary to read about how some of them have no effect on humansโฆ they just live inside and go about their business. Thatโs pretty creepy too, if you ask me.
The centrepiece of the Meguro Parasitological Museum is the tapeworm which measures 8.8 metres in length. It is proudly displayed in a special frame on the wall… although it’s slightly disappointing to see it wound around rather than in a straight line.
I’m not sure the room would even be long enough for it to be displayed straight. Luckily there’s a handy 8.8 metre-long bit of ribbon you can play with to get a sense of how big the tapeworm is.
The people here seem fascinated. Little exclamations of shock or revulsion escape their lips.
There are families, young couples, groups of friends. Perhaps they’re from out of town and thought this would be an odd Tokyo experience, perhaps they live here and have never been before, or perhaps they’re just big fans of parasites.
Personally, I wouldn’t say it is really worth the trip. Most of the information is in Japanese only, which makes it difficult. But even so, it’s a relatively small collection that doesn’t take long to see.
And anyway, do you really want to remind yourself that these things exist and are constantly trying to find their way inside you?
Visit the Meguro Parasitological Museum
It’s very easy to visit the Meguro Parasitological Museum, but I wanted to share some tips to help you plan.
The easiest way to get there by public transport is to catch the train or subway to Meguro station and walk from there (about ten minutes).
Or, if you’ve got some spare time, it’s also quite a nice 45-minute walk from Shibuya station to the museum, via the Kyu Asakura House, which is a beautiful sight to visit.
(This historic house is one of the things I recommend in my three-day itinerary for visiting Tokyo.)
There is no cost to visit the museum. There’s an opportunity to leave a donation but there’s no pressure to do that.
The average time for a visit is about 30 minutes or less. Although there are information signs, they’re mostly in Japanese, so you may find you don’t spend too much time reading.
The museum has some pretty standard rules – no eating or drinking, no touching the exhibits (except when invited to), and no loud noises.
A few other useful bits of visitor information:
- Animals other than service dogs are not allowed.
- There is a lift for wheelchairs. A rental wheelchair and a stroller are alo available.
- A wheelchair-accessible toilet (with a baby seat installed) is available on the first floor.
Photos are allowed but you’re asked not to use tripods or selfie-sticks. Live video streaming is not permitted.
Where is the Meguro Parasitological Museum?
The Meguro Parasitological Museum is located in theย Meguro Wardย in centralย Tokyo, Japan.
The exact address isย 4 Chome-1-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0064, Japan
You can see it on a map here.
How do you get to the Meguro Parasitological Museum?
To get to the Meguro Parasitological Museum by public transport, first head to Meguro Station, which is on the JR Yamanote Line, the Tokyo Metro, and the Tokyo Subway.
From the station, you can catch a bus from theย West Exit (Nishi-Guchi)ย of Meguro Station. Every bus except for the โ09โ will go to the museum. Get off at the second bus stop,ย โOtori-Jinja Mae (ๅคง้ณฅ็ฅ็คพๅ)โ.
Or you can walk from the station. It’s about 12 minutes away.
When is the Meguro Parasitological Museum open?
The Meguro Parasitological Museum is open Wednesday to Friday from 10:00 – 17:00.
It is closed on Monday, Tuesday, and National holidays.
What is the Meguro Parasitological Museum entrance fee?
There is no admission fee but donations are welcome.
You can find more information on the museum’s official website.
While you’re in the area, there are a few interesting things to see around Meguro. Although there are no major sights nearby, I would recommend some of these ideas:
- Daienji Temple: A lovely little temple hidden away in a narrow street, the focus is a tall statue of Buddha surrounded by 500 small stone statues representing his followers.
- Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum: Set within an Art Deco building that was once home to a prince, the architecture is one of the highlights, along with the temporary exhibitions hosted in the space.
- Meguro River: The eight-kilometre river goes right through Meguro and is considered to be a wonderfully scenic spot, lined by trees and with walking paths along the bank in many spots.
Speaking of the Meguro River, if you’re visiting during cherry blossom season, the stunning pinky white flowers hang over both sides of the water, making for a beautiful (and very popular) spot for some ‘hanami’ (flower watching).
If you’re looking for somewhere to eat in Meguro, there are lots of trendy modern and international restaurants (that’s the vibe around here) as well as some typical Japanese ones, of course.
For a relatively simple (but incredibly delicious) meal, grab the tonkatsu set menu at Tonki.
To try the quality international options in the area, some suggestions are the affordable French restaurant Bistro Egalite, or the more formal Israeli restaurant Marcelo’s.
And for high-end Japanese (or, as they describe it, “Japanese ingredients but not Japanese”), you can’t go past the Michelin-starred Kabi (but it’s not cheap!).
THE BEST ACCOMMODATION AT TOKYO STATION
I think the two top neighbourhoods for accommodation are Tokyo Station or Shinjuku, but for more options I’ve got detailed tips for where to stay in Tokyo.
BACKPACKER
If youโre looking for a backpacker option, you can get comfortable dorm beds at the great Wise Owl Hostel.
BUDGET
Tokyo is expensive but APA Hotel Ginza-Takaracho is a good price for a nice hotel near the station.
BOUTIQUE
For a trendy modern hotel close to the station, I think you’ll like The Gate Hotel Tokyo by Hulic.
LUXURY
And for one of the best hotels in Tokyo, I would recommend The Peninsula.
THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN TOKYO: SHINJUKU
Staying in Shinjuku puts you in one of the busiest parts of city, which is great for exploring during the day and at night.
BACKPACKER
BUDGET
An affordable hotel in central Shinjuku is IBIS Tokyo Shinjuku.
BOUTIQUE
If you’re looking for a cool design hotel, then Bespoke Hotel Shinjuku is a great choice.
LUXURY
And for a luxury stay, you can’t go past the gorgeous Park Hyatt.
Wowzahs! I wonder how long it took the person too realize they had an 8.8 m long tape worm inside of them!
You would probably be wondering why you were eating so much and never putting on weight! (Speaking of, I wish I had a tapeworm…)
Trippy! Check out the Hunterian Museum next time you’re in London, it’s chill inspiring too.
Oh, awesome. I’ll put it on the list. I love wacky museums (more because of the fact that someone thought they would be a good idea in the first place!)
I love parasites! they are so interesting.
Do you know where they found that 8.8m long tapeworm? In which animal? We learned crazy parasitology stuff when I did my zoology degree. I almost became a parasitologist! (now I prefer to look at wolf poo)
I’m pretty sure they took the tapeworm out of a human. At least, that’s what I think I read (there was nothing in English about it at the museum). Apparently it’s the longest in the world!
so fascinating!
holy cow this is scary! and some of the worms are huge! i remember the show on TV, “Monsters Inside Me” where they usually caught parasites on their travels.
Please don’t say that! Getting some weird tropical disease or parasite is one of my biggest fears when travelling!