Meguro Parasitological Museum in Meguro, Japan

Billing itself as the only establishment in the world entirely devoted to parasites, this quirky little museum has become a popular offbeat attraction – and even date spot – in the relatively quiet Meguro neighborhood of Japan’s sprawling capital.

The ground floor might seem harmless enough – lights flash on oversize maps of Japan to show where different parasites are present – but go up the stairs and things take a more gruesome turn.

Photographs show the severely distended testicles of the unfortunate human host of a tropical bug. Nearby, a giant herpetological parasite pokes out of a bottled turtle’s head. The museum has over 45,000 immersed and prepared parasite specimens in its collection.

But the prize attraction is undoubtedly the world’s longest tapeworm – all 8.8 metres of it – accompanied by a rope the same length that you can "play with" to get a real "feel" for its dimensions. The small gift shop sells a cheery range of parasite-themed T-shirts, keyrings, and birthday cards.