11 weird but wonderful museums in Tokyo

Run by the Bank of Japan, the Currency Museum traces the long history of money in the country, from the use of imported Chinese coins in the late Heian period (12th century) to the creation of the yen and the central bank in the second half of the 19th century. See beautiful Edo-era, calligraphy-inscribed gold bullions, occupation-era notes from Indonesia and the Philippines, Siberian leather money, and Thai leech coins. Want to know how much ¥100 million weighs? You'll get to lift that pile of money here, which is as thick of two phone books, kept safely inside a perspex box.

FREE entry.

This museum was opened in 1953 by Satoru Kamegai, a doctor who was overwhelmed by patients afflicted by parasites caused by the poor sanitary conditions which were widespread in post-war Japan. This unusual venture displays some 300 samples of 45,000 parasites he collected. The second floor has a display of an 8.8m tapeworm taken from the body of a 40-year-old man, with a ribbon next to it to emphasise just how long 8.8m really is. Better yet, the shop sells parasites preserved in plastic keyrings − we are not kidding.

FREE entry (but donations are encouraged).

Established in 1931, this museum is located on the second floor of Taimeiken restaurant. The former owner of the restaurant has collected more than 3,000 kites, mostly from the Edo period (1603-1868), of which 100 are on display. See if you can spot the Indonesian kites made from dried leaves, the ones with printed samurai motives, or even those made from styrofoam. Don’t expect detailed explanations of the exhibits; this is more of a private hobby on public display.

Entry ¥220, junior high and primary school students ¥110.

With its fascinating mix of exhibits across three departments – commodities, criminal materials and archeology – this basement attraction in the huge Meiji University building is one of Tokyo’s best secret museums. The first section is dedicated to traditional Japanese handicrafts such as pottery, indigo-dyeing, bamboo work, washi paper and lacquerware. The next section, which is also the highlight, is where it gets really interesting. It reveals the torture procedures used in the second half of the 18th century to punish criminals, such as haritsuke (crucifixion), gokumon (displaying the head publicly after a decapitation) and ishidaki gougu (putting large rocks on the knees of a sitting person). As a contrast, there are also some historical Western torture instruments including the iron maiden and the guillotine.

Free entry.

Jointly operated by Japan Post and the museum of the University of Tokyo, this multifaceted museum inside the KITTE complex right next to Tokyo Station remains a hidden secret despite its superb location. The Intermediatheque is one of the city's few free museums and displays the academic achievements of Japan's most celebrated educational institution, along with an extensive – and occasionally creepy – collection of zoological specimens. Think complete skeletons and taxidermy models. There's some explanatory text in English, most of it quite informative.

FREE entry. 

The rationale for this unique museum's pairing of themes is that both were once government monopoly commodities. Tobacco gets the most exposure, with much of the space devoted to the history, manufacture and culture of the killer leaf. A detailed life-sized diorama of a tobacco shop of the Edo period (1603-1868) adds to the nostalgic atmosphere. The salt section, on the other hand, has its own draws including an impressive 1.4 tonne piece of rock salt and a replica of St. Kinga, a two-metre high statue carved from two pieces of rock salt, originally located in Poland's Wieliczka's Salt Mine (also known as Wieliczka's Underground Salt Cathedral), a UNESCO World Heritage site. Look out for the rotating special exhibitions, too. Before you visit, download the audio guide app to make the most of your visit.

Entry ¥100, high school, junior high and primary school students ¥50.

The interactive Tokyo Metro Museum is located directly under the Tozai line’s railway tracks. Here you can learn about the history of Tokyo’s subway system and latest rail technology. As well as the exhibits of actual trains, including a wagon from the Ginza line’s 1,000 series and the Marunouchi line’s historic 300 series, the train simulators provide an immersive experience by transforming you into a train conductor traveling along Tokyo’s railways. Don’t forget to drop in to the museum shop, which boasts an array of subway-themed souvenirs.

Entry ¥220, junior high school students to children aged four ¥100, free for younger children.

At Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, the first floor is devoted to the history of ramen, the noodle dish that has become a national obsession in Japan and a worldwide sensation. You’ll find life-size models of old wooden ramen shops and stalls, 380 ramen bowls collected from restaurants around Japan, a massive collection of instant ramen from around the world, and more.

If you want to experience Japan’s ramen culture rather than just looking at exhibits and specimens, there are two options for you at the museum. Firstly, you can learn to make your own ramen. This daily workshop, available at 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 5.30pm, costs ¥4,000 per person and takes about an hour. We recommend making a reservation in advance.

The other option is to head straight for the museum’s main attraction – the seven ramen shops in the basement. Each shop sells a different regional style of ramen, ranging from Sapporo ramen (miso-based soup) from the north, to Okinawa ramen (shio-based soup) from the south.

Entry ¥380, high school, junior high and primary school students ¥100, free for children under 6 years old.

Curated by Horiyoshi III, a renowned master of traditional Japanese tattooing, this private collection is packed with materials related to the culture, customs, history and present-day state of skin art. The word ‘bunshin’, which appears in some of the earliest official records of Japanese history, is the ancient word for tattoos. Prehistoric clay figurines discovered in the country testify to the fact that primitive pattern tattoos existed before the Common Era.

While the Edo period gave birth to a vivid tattoo culture described as ‘living ukiyo-e’, several factors led to skin art being viewed in a negative light (hence the banning of tattoos in onsen, or hot spring baths). These factors include the use of tattoos as a form of punishment, the assumed connection between tattoos and organised crime, and the influence of Confucian morality. Standing against such prejudice, the Bunshin collection shines a light on millennia of tattoo history, as well as on the global tattoo movement of today.  

Entry ¥1,000.

Instant noodles are big in Japan. At this interactive museum dedicated to the modern-day convenience, you get to have fun while learning about the creative-thinking process of Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant noodles, by seeing, touching, playing and eating.

You can even make your own cup noodles at My Cupnoodles Factory. Choose from four different soup flavours and add four out of 12 toppings to your cup. Note that you have to get a numbered ticket in advance to partake in the experience.

At the Noodles Bazaar, you can sample noodle dishes from around the world, such as pasta, pho, laksa, laghman and more. Round off your hearty meal with a mango pudding, annin-dofu, kakigori shaved ice desserts or a tapioca drink.

Entry ¥500, free for high school students and younger children.

This Love Doll Museum is the passion project of photographer and love doll enthusiast Yoshitaka Hyodo. After purchasing a two-storey building, he was finally able to immerse himself completely in his interest and create a life surrounded by dolls. The collection on display in his home now comprises more than 20 treasures, including mannequins and love dolls. On the day of our visit, the exhibition was divided into different themes: the first floor's concept was military secret service, and the second floor area was decorated with medical instruments and anatomical models from a former hospital. Because this is his home, it's only open to the public three times a year (check his blog for the dates) − but if you can make it, it's well worth a visit.

Next opening dates and times: August 26 12noon-9pm, August 27 5pm-9pm, August 28-31 10am-9pm.

E-mail hey@mbc.nifty.com for reservations, and you'll receive the address upon confirmation. The museum is located in Yashio, Saitama prefecture.

Entry ¥1,000.