photo by humsum.exblog.jp
Island country Japan seems confined but is actually pretty extensive. Of course there are all kinds of value systems. This time we’re introducing some offbeat museums we found all over Japan. Places that have a collection of display items that will shock you, or have a mysterious world within; there are surprisingly many content rich museums in Japan. There are an assortment of museums that are worth going to, that will also make you think, ’And this is for what purpose?’
Hokkaido Abashiri Prison Museum
This museum sits on land that is 3.5 times the size of Tokyo Dome. The actual old Abashiri prison that was used has been preserved and it was reopened as a museum. This place is famous for being one of the harshest and least able to escape prisons in Japan. Inside the museum, there are visible marks that prisoners have left on the pillars and beams which make it really realistic. Using wax mannequins, they have re-created the bathroom and sleeping areas to make it look just like the real thing. If you like, as a memory of a lifetime, you can go into a prison cell. The ‘Prisoner’s meal’ is available to eat, alongside ten of the Meiji Period prison mannequins. Here, they have accurately recreated the menus of what the Abashiri prisoners ate. It has been much talked about that if you’re able to get over the ambiance of the place, the food is quite good! Do keep in mind this prisoner’s menu is not available from November to January.
Museum Abashiri Prison
Hokkaido Abashiri City Yobito 1-1
Tokyo Defense Army Public Relations Center
At this center you have a chance to experience activities and training specific to the Defense Army troops through the use of simulators and such. At events, they have offbeat experiences available such as the opening of the seating area of tanks or riding in helicopters. There are events that you might have to sign up for, so be sure to constantly check the website.
Defense Army Public Relations Office
Tokyo Nerima-ku Oizumigakuen-cho 9
Tokyo Dagashi-ya Game Museum
The highlights of this place are the cherished rare Showa machines like the Shinkansen Game or Overtake the Country Battle, and Janken (Rock, paper, scissors) Man, lined up next to each other. Both people who do know and don’t know will be calmed by the unique illustrations of these game consoles. For those people who remember pouring all their money into them when they were a child, how about using your adult means of wealth for a little revenge?
Tokyo Dagashi-ya Game Museum
Tokyo Itabashi-ku Miyamoto-cho 17-8
Tokyo Showa Retro Packaging Museum
This is a museum that has the interesting concept of ’packaging is a culture’. Inside there are a variety of packaging and wrappings of Showa period snacks and medicines. Inside the museum, we can see the gap from the cherished Showa period and you can enjoy a time slip.
Showa Retro Packaging Museum
Tokyo Ome-shi Sumie-cho 65
Tokyo Meguro Parasitological Museum
Japan was ecstatic about Professor Satoshi Oomura’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015. Meguro’s ‘Parasitological Museum’ is sure to soar in popularity because of this. This is the world’s only museum dedicated to the parasite specialty. It is enticing that the entrance fee is free, but it might take a little courage for people who are not fanatics to go browse around. How about a parasite T-shirt, tote bag, or clear file as a souvenir?
Meguro Parasitological Museum
Tokyo Meguro-ku Shimomeguro 4-1-1
Tokyo Meiji University Museum (Criminal Division)
While looking back at the history of the death penalty, a variety of equipment and sights pertaining to torture in Japan and other foreign countries, are displayed here. Among them, the guillotine which was the preferred method of execution in Japan after the Meiji Period is one that everyone recognizes, but is also one that is gut-wrenching. There are also illustrations of scenes of executions, and for people other than fanatics, it might be a little too much.
Meiji University Museum (Criminal Division)
Tokyo Chiyoda-ku Kanda Surugadai 1-1Academy Common basement
Saitama Prefecture Railway Museum
Even if you’re not a train enthusiast, you’ll be able to enjoy the day at this museum. After you re-confirm your railroad history in the highlight of this museum, the history zone where there are 36 rail cars set up, you can move on to the long-awaited train driving experience. Anyone below elementary school age can take part in this driving experience on a mini train car. There are a total of 10 cars. However, to ride, you will need a numbered ticket so don’t forget.
Railway Museum
Saitama Prefecture Saitama City Omiya-ku Taisei-machi 3-47
Aichi Prefecture Japan Game Museum
This place is a museum that has time restrictions. As long as you pay the entrance fee, you can play-all-you-want Showa retro game consoles. It might be the case that only fanatics are able to understand why this is interesting, but you can get a lecture anytime on how to play, so don’t worry. Even with the nostalgic game of ping-pong where you were just playing it without understanding it, you might be able to see the light of why it’s so interesting.
Japan Game Museum
Aichi prefecture Inujma-shi Imai Yamagamihora 9-1
Shiga Prefecture Shiga Safari Museum
This is a museum of taxidermies. All the animals in this place where caught by the hunter, Mr. Kondo, who is also a taxidermist. There are approximately 100 taxidermies on display. But, this is just a portion of them. To say the least, he hunted them, and we can understand the green pheasant and deer, but we also see the taxidermy of a lion, giraffe, and polar bear those of which can’t be found in Japan, and are shocked by the extent of the hunter’s devotion. People who are close by, please give the taxidermy museum that packs a punch, a visit.
Shiga Safari Museum
Shiga prefecture Koka-shi Shigaraki-cho Kinose 2854-2
Mie Prefecture Iga-ryu Ninja House
A museum where you can experience being a ninja… Inside, there are more than 400 items of treasured ninja equipment displayed, including a real throwing knife. Also inside the museum, there are some tricks the Iga ninjas have put into play, so everyone is immensely curious! In the full impact ninjutsu show, they use throwing knives and swords, and a sickle and chain that were actually used, which will prove to be irresistible for fanatics.
Iga-ryu Ninja House
Mie prefecture Iga city Ueno Marunouchi 117
Osaka Instant Ramen Museum
The birthplace of the Japan’s representative food culture, instant ramen, is the ‘Instant Ramen Museum’ located in Osaka’s Ikeda City. In this museum, there is a place that fanatics go crazy for, which is the respectable reproduction of the research hut where chicken ramen was born. There is also a drama theater, along with display items, where you can fully learn about the history of instant ramen, but what is of most interest is the make-your-own original cup noodle experience. With 4 types of original soups, 12 kinds of ingredients, and 4 types of toppings, it is possible to make 5460 flavors. For example, you can choose 4 ingredients and if you’re meat person, you can choose 4 meat only ingredients. But keep in mind that when it’s crowded, you can only make one per person.
Instant Ramen Museum
Osaka Ikeda-shi Masumi-cho 8-25
Finally
How was it? In Japan, there are many many more offbeat places enthusiasts will enjoy, besides museums. We’ll introduce those when we have a chance, so be on the look out!!
