Which Museum Has the Most Bizarre Collection?

If you were compiling a list of the world's strangest museums, you undoubtedly would have to include the Meguro Parasitological Museum. This quirky medical museum in downtown Tokyo is devoted to the world’s parasites and the science of parasitology. There are about 300 species of parasites on display, including the star of the collection -- the world’s longest tapeworm, a 29-foot (8.8-m) specimen -- technically, Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense -- that was actually extracted from a human male. About 70,000 people visit the offbeat museum every year, eager to see the rare parasites collected by its founder, Dr. Satoru Kamegai, who has been sharing his life's work since 1953.

Tale of the tapeworm:

• The tapeworm exhibit includes a 29-foot (8.8-m) ribbon -- the same size as the world's longest tapeworm -- that viewers can handle to get a sense of the enormity of the mega-parasite.
• The research library contains 60,000 parasite specimens, as well as 50,000 papers and 5,000 books on parasitology.
• If you visit, be sure to stop in at the gift shop for a wide range of parasite-themed T-shirts, key rings, and birthday cards.