Dear reader, allow me to begin by apologizing for all of the upcoming scattalogical puns an innuendos in the following paragraphs. This is truly going to be one crappy post. Today, we’ll be taking a look at Tokyo’s Unko Museum. As the Japanese speakers out there will have already picked up, this moniker quite literally means the “Poop Museum.” Found out on Tokyo’s island of Odaiba, this permanent themed curation is one of the strangest museums in all of Japan.
Unlike a lot of the locales that I feature on this blog, the Unko Museum is actually a convenient add-on for most overseas visitors to Japan than need not crap all over the rest of your plans. Thanks to its ease of access, you can check out the Unko Museum after seeing the famous Gundam statue in Odaiba. What’s more, the museum’s hours of operation run late meaning that you can grab dinner in Odaiba before heading over.
The shitstory of this poopy facility is a story in and of itself. The feculence originally began as a temporary exhibition down in Yokohama. Apparently though, the attraction was so poopular that those in charge thought it would be wise to create a permanent site that was fully dedicated to the crappy world of number two. As a result, all of the poo-related installations were flushed down the drain from Yokohama over to Odaiba.
Honestly speaking, over the years that I’ve been traversing the prefectures, I’ve encountered a lot of Japan’s whacky museums like the Meguro Parasitological Museum. As eccentric as these curations are though, they lack the elementary school level of fun that the Unko Museum offers. Positioned somewhere between play and art, the so-called “Poop Museum” and its dedication to defecating are a hilarious way for adults to rediscover the whimsical.
How to Get There
Thanks to its convenient location in Odaiba, getting to Tokyo’s Unko Museum is quite easy. All you need to do is take one of the several train lines that service this part of the city (refer to a service like Jorudan to determine which is best for you). Once you’ve arrived in Odaiba, the Unko Museum will be but a few minutes walk away from the nearest station. You’ll find it within the DiverCity Tokyo Plaza shopping complex.
One downside of Tokyo’s “Poop Museum” is that it is pricy. While a trip to the porcelain throne might indeed be free, the a visit to the Unko Museum is going to set you back nearly 2,000 yen. You can purchase tickets online but note that you can’t just pop in at will. You’ll need to either pick one up on Klook’s website or swing by the museum’s reception station at the DiverCity Tokyo Plaza.
For reference, here is the address should you need it: 1 Chome-1–10 Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo 135–0064, Japan…
Tokyo’s “Poop Museum”
All things considered, a visit to the Unko Museum will surprise you more than a sudden case of diarrhea. Immediately upon entering the facility, one of the museum’s staff will explain a bit about the facility. This is usually all in Japanese but I am sure that the attendant will be able to excrete some rudimentary English now that the borders are open. After all, most adults in Japan have dedicated six years to studying and therefore speak some shitty English.
Just in case English explanations are flushed down the drain, allow me to provide you with a brief overview of what to expect at the “Poop Museum.” Basically, following the initial lecture, there is a group activity that you’ll have to participate in. I don’t want to poop all over your parade and ruin the fun for you. Rather than smear the proverbial toilet paper, know that all you really need to do is mimic what everyone else is doing.
After the hilarious group session, your guide will discharge you and you’ll be free to meander about the Unko Museum at your leisure. I suggest that you pop in and out of the various rooms. There are plenty of places to snap a funny photo with the poo-shaped art. Additionally, there’s also a ball pit to play in as well as a collection of poop-themed games. There’s even a station where test your mental acuity by trying to catch falling poops.
Once you’re dung (get it?) checking out some of the more visually stimulating areas of the Unko Museum, one room that I suggest you check out is the Unko Shout installation. Here, you’ll have a chance to scream “Unkooooooooooo” at the top of your lungs into a microphone. Truth be told, you’d be hard pressed to come up with a way to relieve yourself of any shit you might be going through than yelling poop as loud as you can.
When you’re ready to leave, head out via the giant toilet bowl pictured at the beginning of this section. This will pop you out right into the museum’s gift shop. Here you can purchase wide variety of shit-shaped paraphernalia. Honestly, I’d expect nothing less from Japan’s so-called “Poop Museum.”
Other Nearby Attractions
If you’re looking for something else to do in the area after pinching a loaf at the Unko Museum, know that Odaiba has a lot of other amazing allures. While the amazing Oedo Onsen Monogatari hot spring facility sadly closed during the pandemic, there’s still a ton of other things to see and do in this part of Tokyo. For starters, know that the ever-iconic Gundam seen in the photo above can be found the DiverCity Tokyo Plaza. Unlike the first incarnation, the present one, the Unicorn Gundam, lights up for shows so be sure to check the time schedule.
Assuming that you’re not feeling pooped and are up for another museum, the National Museum of Emerging Science & Innovation (A.K.A the “Miraikan” in Japanese) is also a wonderful visit. While not whimsically stupid like playing games with poop, this complex is full of all sorts of shit related to — you guessed it, the future! Especially for those of you with studious elementary school kids in tote, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation us a great addition to to the potty humor.
