Be it large watermelons grown within the shapes of hearts and cubes; spas the place you’ll be able to soak your complete physique in a big steaming vat of ramen noodles (full with a aromatic pork-based broth); or sport exhibits during which contestants try to eat spaghetti whereas getting spun round helter-skelter in a dryer, Japanese tradition actually has an affinity for the odder issues in life.
On the subject of museums, the nation boasts some equally strange treasures devoted to nationwide cultural obsessions – from cup noodles and ninjas to kites and animated movies. Listed below are a number of to take a look at in your subsequent journey to Japan.
1. Cup Noodle Museum, Yokohama
Recent, frozen or instantaneous – the Japanese actually love their noodles, even when it comes packaged in a Styrofoam cup. Guests to the Cup Noodle Museum in central Yokohama can discover out concerning the historical past, manufacturing course of and cultural significance of the standard dish by way of an array of analogue, digital and interactive reveals. You may even attempt your hand at making noodles from scratch on the Hen Ramen Manufacturing facility; or assemble your individual cup noodles – all the way in which all the way down to the bundle design – to take house with you as a memento.
2. Meguro Parasitological Museum, Tokyo
Fancy getting up shut and private with some distinctive creepy crawlies? Japan’s capital is house to the Meguro Parasitological Museum, a non-public museum devoted to the science of parasitology that was based in 1953. As one of many solely museums on this planet utterly devoted to parasites, the two-storey attraction has a whopping upwards of 60,000 specimens in its spectacular assortment, and shows round 300 of them for guests. The must-see exhibit is among the world’s longest tapeworms, measuring a powerful 8.8 metres in size.
3. Ninja Museum of Igaryu, Mie Prefecture
Whereas there have been many motion pictures about Japanese ninjas, not a lot is thought concerning the historical past of those historic intelligence officers. Study ninjas and ninjutsu (the technique and ways practiced by ninjas) on the Ninja Museum of Igaryu. You may try reveals showcasing clothes and written secret codes; peruse shows of over 400 instruments; and catch an thrilling live-action present the place conventional weapons akin to shuriken (a hidden hand blade), swords and kusarigama (which includes a sickle and a weight) are used to reveal how ninjas used to do battle. The museum’s present store additionally purports to promote uncommon and authentic ninja items that can not be discovered anyplace else.
4. Ghibli Museum, Tokyo
From Princess Mononoke (1997) and My Neighbour Totoro (1988) to Spirited Away (2001) and The Wind Rises (2014), Studio Ghibli has given the world a lot pleasure with their whimsical, heartfelt animated movies. If you happen to’re seeking to dive into all issues Ghibli, pencil in a go to to this one-of-a-kind attraction. Positioned within the Mitaka suburb of Tokyo, it’s right here that you just’ll discover an immersive wonderland of movie screenings, reveals, animations, shows and even outside sights devoted to the magical universes dreamed up by the animation studio over time. You should definitely snap an image with the enormous Totoro mascot on the entrance. Tickets are extraordinarily restricted and promote out nicely prematurely, so do guide as early as doable.
5. Sand Museum, Tottori
The world’s solely indoor museum fully dedicated to sand sculptures, the Sand Museum within the coastal metropolis of Tottori reveals varied artworks created from sand obtained from close by dunes. Every year, the museum – which is helmed by award-winning sand sculptor Chaen Katsuhiko – bases its reveals round a sure theme and invitations world-class sand sculptors to create works that talk to the subject. Thereafter, the short-term reveals are demolished, and the sand is returned again to its pure atmosphere. If you happen to’re planning to go to, do observe that the museum closes yearly between January and mid-April, to permit time for artists to demolish the earlier exhibition and construct new sculptures following the brand new theme chosen.
6. Kite Museum, Tokyo
Regardless of being one of many smaller museum in Japan, this attraction is a price a go to to take a look at the colorful assortment of kites sourced from all around the world. The Kite Museum was initially created in 1977 by fanatic Shingo Modegi and, regardless of his passing, the museum lives on as a tribute to his quirky obsession. You’ll discover roughly 300 totally different kites from varied eras (some date all the way in which again to the Edo interval) displayed alongside the partitions, hanging from the ceiling and positioned in packed show cupboards. There are reportedly one other 3,500 kites held in storage.
Please verify the institutions’ respective web sites for opening hours in addition to reserving and seating necessities earlier than visiting, and bear in mind to stick to safe-distancing measures whereas out and about.
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