Ancient Egypt Museum of Shibuya

You’d be forgiven for not noticing the Ancient Egypt Museum of Tokyo, which is located on the eighth floor of a building located on a busy Shibuya intersection. Many of the salarymen, shoppers, and tourists walking by don't realize they are walking right under the mummified remains of some of Ancient Egypt’s own, right in downtown Tokyo.

The Ancient Egypt Museum of Tokyo boasts over a thousand artifacts. While the tickets are a tad pricey by Japanese standards, and the museum is on the small size, you will get a lot of bang for your buck. The curators clearly wanted the space to be creative and offer an immersive experience, and to that end, you will be shown a short film at the beginning of your tour and given a handsome explorer’s flashlight to navigate some of the darker tunnels, corners, and crevices of the museum.

Parts of the exhibit have been plunged into total darkness, giving the visitor an experience that they are entering a tomb. The museum boasts a large number of artifacts from Ancient Egypt, including, of course, mummified remains, both human and otherwise. Atmospheric music sets the mood as you explore the jam-packed rooms. It’s a must-visit for anyone passionate about Egyptian culture, and for anyone else looking for a respite from the crowded metropolitan streets down below. An introductory video is available in English, while the artifact plaques are in Japanese only.