The Meguro Parasitological Museum is a small private research institute on Meguro-dori in Shimomeguro, about a 12-minute walk from Meguro Station. Dr. Satoru Kamegai founded it in 1953, and it is one of the few museums in the world devoted entirely to parasites. Visitors come for the unsettling specimens and leave knowing far more about tapeworms than they expected.
Two compact exhibition floors hold around 300 preserved specimens and related materials (GLTJP). The ground floor covers parasite diversity across animal hosts, including fish, whales and sea turtles. Upstairs, the focus shifts to human infections and life cycles. The star exhibit is an 8.8-metre broad tapeworm pulled from a single patient. Beside it hangs a length of rope matching its size, so you can grasp the scale. The second floor also has a small shop selling parasite-themed T-shirts and specimen keychains. Sales help fund the museum’s research.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Practical details (official site):
- Admission: Free, with donations welcome.
- Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays. If a national holiday falls on one of those days, the museum opens and closes the following weekday instead. It also closes over the New Year holidays.
- Time needed: 30 to 40 minutes (Machinagi).
The rooms fill quickly on weekend afternoons, so aim for a weekday morning. The walk from Meguro Station runs downhill and crosses the Meguro River. Pair your visit with a riverside stroll, which is especially worthwhile during cherry blossom season.
