More often than not they work, earn a decent wage, spend it all on themselves and let Mum and Dad shoulder the cost of living – even going to their parents for the odd handout from time to time.

Real life parasites meanwhile have reportedly been heard to be unhappy at this usage of their ‘group name’ and whilst not yet considering legal action have set up a museum to earn back a little of the respect they feel has been lost following the introduction into the common vernacular of the aforementioned term; ‘parasite single’.

So, while it may be true that parasites wouldn’t normally feature on anyone’s ‘to see’ list when scoping an area, town or city to visit – weird scientists and docs the obvious exception of course, the Meguro Parasite Museum is, as it happens, worth a visit if in the area – although perhaps not just after or even before eating lunch!

The parasite museum concept itself dates to 1953, but the facilities here in the current location opened in 1992 after a period of refurbishment. As a unique, one of a kind museum – literally – the museum is even a noted ‘date-spot’ in recent years; many young Japanese couples making their way here as part of a day together to see what is going on / hanging out etc.

With 300 exhibits in the display, including an 8.8m worm recovered from somebody’s inner workings, the chances for romance seem dim but to each their own as they say.

For the romantically – or parasitically – inclined then, the museum is situated in a relatively small looking building on a corner of Yamate-dori, 10/15 minutes or so walk down then up the hill from the main Meguro Station on JR and subway lines – in summer the perfect air conditioned stop off, on your way to the famed Meguro Fudo, a couple of hundred metres further along the narrow street than runs by the museum itself.

Opening Hours: Every day – with the exception of Mondays – 10:00am to 17:00pm

Admission: Free

Nothing really compares to charcoal grilled fish on a hot summer’s day and in recent years, the annual summertime gathering of locals and tourists to chomp down 5,000 fish caught that very morning off the coast of Iwate Prefecture to the north of Tokyo, along with more than a few cool ones has become something of a festival in this corner of South Tokyo.

In recent years, and 2008 will be the 13th time the festivities have taken place, up to 15,000 have attended making the Sanma Matsuri one of the more popular ‘niche’, if still quaint of festivals in Tokyo.

Added to the mix of late has been the addition of dozens of box loads of Tokushima Prefecture ‘mikan’ (satsuma / mandarin / tangerines in English), shipped into the capital specially from the Shikoku based prefecture.

Combine the tangy taste of fresh oranges from central Japan with delicious sanma from north Japan – grilled before your very eyes – only in Meguro.

Timings: September 7th – all day near the main station area (look for the smoke from the grills) of JR Meguro Station.

Access: JR Meguro Station on the Yamanote Line

There is a festival around the temple on the 28th of every month in honour of Fudo and this is the best time to visit. Stalls are set up selling everything from Buddhist artifacts to local food and drink, as well as providing amusements similar to those found in Western fairgrounds: there’s a shooting range, lucky dip, a goldfish stall, among others.

Throughout the day and early evening, there are fire rituals, where talismans consecrated by holy smoke are offered for protection against various ills. The early evening when the sun goes down and the light is provided by the lanterns is particularly recommended and gives you the feeling that you have stepped back in time.

The temple itself is one of the five great Fudo temples in Tokyo. Climb up the steep stone steps and you’re rewarded with a great view of the large temple roof and altar. After visiting the altar, follow the wooden steps around to the back of the temple to see the huge Buddhist statue, Dainichi Norai.

The 2nd floor, Meguro Tavern, is a short walk from Meguro Station along Meguro-dori, on the left by the first overpass-cum-footbridge you come to.

The owner is himself British and the interior is as near to a British style pub as you’re likely to get in Tokyo with beer and Guinness going for a little under 1000 yen, per pint. 

About 20 minutes walk further along the same street, but on the other side, is the tiny Seamus O’ Hara, run by a friendly Japanese woman who once worked as a barmaid in Ireland and does a nice stew.

If British/Irish pubs are not what you came to Tokyo for though, Meguro-dori gets really interesting after the Meguro Tavern and offers plenty more. Small restaurants and bars are clustered together; especially recommended are the noodle shops with dishes such as miso ramen and sha-chumen for around 500 yen a-piece.

The Okinawan Nanchichi restaurant on the right just after the overpass is a good place to try food from the exotic south of Japan. The dishes served here tend to use a lot of pork and the bitter vegetable known in Japanese as ‘goya’; The dish Goya Champlu a great introduction to Okinawan food.

Among the non-Japanese restaurants the Indian, Tandoor, is recommended (East exit of the station, turn left and it is on the same block), as is the Spanish Case De Fujimori, just a few doors down. Perhaps the most exotic of all non- Japanese places is the Thai/ Italian Fusion restaurant.

A 10/15 minute walk from the East exit along Meguro-dori in the opposite direction, the Tuk Tuk restaurant is situated just in front of the Metropolitan Teien Museum and for around 1500 yen per head, you can experience this culinary union of East and West in a very pleasant atmosphere surrounded by palms, statues of Buddha and fairy lights. Oh, and the food’s not bad either!

Large numbers of churches – Catholic and of other denominations – can be found in various pockets of Tokyo, but none are quite as picturesque as the famed Salesian Church in Meguro; of late site of several society weddings, but usually the spiritual haven of the areas Japanese and international community practitioners of the faith.

Sometimes called the Edo Santa Maria Church, the building’s main chapel is in a white Romanesque form with a large circular stained glass window positioned just above the trio of covered porch-ways that make it so prominent in the neighborhood it calls home.

Without a doubt, and regardless of faith, a church not to miss should Meguro make it onto your own itinerary of a Tokyo visit, especially on a Sunday.

Access: 15 minutes on foot from Gakugei Daigaku Station on the Toyoko Line

Fee: none

One for the sports buffs and sports historians is Komazawa Olympic Park – or then again, anyone who wants to take their foot off the pedal on a quiet afternoon and get back in touch with their greener side.

As site of several of the events in the October, 1964, Tokyo Olympic Games including track and field, football, wrestling and volleyball – some of the most popular sports at the time and still today with Japanese and international fans alike – the park authorities have today transformed the site into a user friendly combination of relaxation options and awareness of the past role the area played in bringing the Olympics to Japan.

Contemplate Japan’s bid to bring the 2016 Games back to Tokyo as you meander through the winding paths through flower beds and expanses of lawn or cycle around one of the several specially designed bicycle paths (some even come solely to jog the 2.2km circumference of the park) – all the while not far from the odd yet quaint design of the one time host stadium of so many Olympic events all those years ago.

Access: 15min on foot from Komazawa Daigaku Station( Denen-toshi Line)

Fee: none

Housed in a modern looking building in the extreme corner of what is today Komaba Park, formerly the home of the powerful Kaga Clan, the museum centers on Japan’s many many gifted writers of the 20th century; from Murakami to Mishima, Ariyoshi to Kawabata.

Separated by author, sometimes chronologically, the displays of manuscripts, personal memorabilia and biographical information is of course primarily in Japanese but fans of a given author are more likely aware of the background, here to view the papers and penned directly, images hitherto unseen and personal trinkets through which those long dead speak to their modern day fans.

Personal exhibitions related to certain authors do take place from time to time so it is worth calling ahead or checking the homepage (Japanese only) for further information prior to planning a visit. (link below)

Access: via Todai-mae Station on the Inokashira Line

Admission: 100 yen

Link: http://www.bungakukan.or.jp/

However, although most associate the University of Tokyo with the Hongo district of Bunkyo-ku in the north of the city, few realize that the campus that plays home to the actual clock tower and also the College of Arts and Sciences, is actually located in Meguro Ward; to be more precise in the same park as Japanese Modern Literature museum that stands just a stone’s throw away.

The brick built clock tower itself can be viewed from afar, and is just one part of an operational university that houses a total of around 30,000 Japanese and exchange students from around the world.

Often a backdrop of any news story relating to the university, the clock tower and buildings are themselves only occasionally open to the public, although various university festivals and events do see access permitted to the outside world from time to time.

Combine a visit to the Japanese Modern Literature Museum with a photo in front of this renowned clock tower and you will have a conversation starter with any Japanese man, woman, boy or girl you meet – anywhere in the world!

Access: Access is best achieved via Komaba Todai-mae Station on the Inokashira Line

Fee: none

Elsewhere in the capital that may be a problem – in Meguro it is less so. Home to 260,000 thousand people of all nationalities, Meguro is well ahead of the game in getting word out to its resident non-Japanese population on issues relating to festivals, ward policy and actions to be taken in the event of any of the emergencies Mother Nature throws at Japan from time to time.

Thanks to the daily MEGURO NAVI, Monday to Friday (a different language is featured each day), slot on the popular Inter FM (76.1FM) radio station – perhaps the most listened to English / Japanese language radio station in the Greater Tokyo area, residents of Meguro are likely often one step ahead of their neighbors in other areas when it comes to being informed, and being aware of the what, when, how and whys out there.

The ward, for longer term residents far more so than limited term visitors to the area, also produces its own newsletter to further enhance two-way integration between the older Japanese and newer foreign members of the community.

Both information on the scheduling of the Inter FM show as well as an online version of the newsletter can be viewed through the links below; invaluable info sources for those looking to move into the area, or even for longer term non-Japanese residents out to learn a little more about their adopted home.

Newsletter link:

http://www.city.meguro.tokyo.jp/english/monthly_meguro/year2008/index.html

Radio show info link:

http://www.city.meguro.tokyo.jp/english/meguro_navi/index.html

A tour in an open topped bus might not be everybody’s cup of tea in the soaring temperatures of mid-July Tokyo but once you are above the heat of the sidewalks, the summertime humidity is largely forgotten.

Setting off from the area just west of Tokyo’s main Shinkansen bullet train terminus, the SKY BUS is a unique, thus far unequalled way in which to view the heart of the Japanese capital.

Using a red double decker bus similar to those seen in London and several cities around the United Kingdom, Hinomaru Limousine Co. LTD strives to replicate the famous tours of the British capital in open topped transport but taking its customers on an hour long trip around many of the main sites central Tokyo has to offer.

The Imperial Palace, National Diet Building and magnificent grounds of the Embassy of the United Kingdom and Great Britain all feature prominently as does the upmarket Ginza district with its range of historic and fashionable buildings – a very cost effective, highly enjoyable and recommended way to see some of the main sites Tokyo has to offer without wearing out the shoe leather.

Access: From Tokyo Station (JR / subway lines) – leave via the Marunouchi Minami-guchi and walk to the bus stop in front of the Mitsubishi Building (beside Maru Building)

Fee: 1200 yen – adults / 600 yen – kids (4 years and above)

Timings: Tours conducted from 10:00 to 18:00 – on the hour, every hour

Link: www.skybus.jp/English/index.html