Meguro

Meguro Station is located in the Shinagawa Ward of Tokyo close to the boundary with Meguro Ward. Situated just south of Meguro Dori (Meguro Street), the station serves Meguro Ward with JR Yamanote Line, Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, Toei Mita Line, and Tokyu Meguro Line.

Meguro

Meguro, situated in the southwest of Tokyo, is largely a residential district, loved by its residents for its beautiful hilly landscape with steep rises and descents. The history of the area goes back to the 1600's when Meguro was a small village, but it mainly developed after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. After the Earthquake people started moving out of the city to suburbs, thus creating new neighborhoods. Meguro is one such neighborhood that slowly developed into a genteel locality with a unique and remarkable landscape. It was made a Ward in March 1947, when the city of Tokyo was reorganized and formed into 23 Wards, or Cities as they are called in English.

Meguro has several historical and cultural sights that attract visitors from not only Japan, but from around the world.

Meguro Citizen's Center

Located a short walk from Meguro Station is Meguro Citizen's Center, a complex that combines various facilities for the citizens of Meguro and the general public. The main facilities are:

Enterprise Center - a Hall and Meeting Rooms; Children's Halls – Halls with facilities designed to promote sound child development through healthy activities; Consumer Center – Provides advice and assistance concerning general consumer matters; Toys Hospital - Volunteer staff mends broken toys in front of children with the aim to encourage curiosity and care in them; Labor Welfare Center – Meeting Rooms; Library ; and Sports Facilities - A Sports Complex consisting of a gymnasium, a swimming pool and tennis courts.

Meguro Museum of Art

Meguro Museum of Art is also located in the Meguro Citizen's Center complex. With the aim to promote art, the Museum organizes exhibitions of its own collections, special exhibitions, works by local artists, and joint exhibits of works by children attending kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools. The Museum also conducts workshops in which any resident can participate. There is also a Citizens (Kumin) Gallery , which is available for rent to the general public.

Daienji Temple

A five minute walk from Meguro Station is Daienji Temple. Although small in size, Daienji has a great history. It was here in this temple that the big fire of Edo that destroyed much of the city in 1772 was started. The incendiary of the fire is said to have been a daughter of a vegetable store owner who was later punished by death. Her tomb is located inside the temple. Five hundred small stone statues of Buddha stand on the temple grounds as a monument to those killed by the fire. The historical Buddha, Shaka Nyorai, in the form of an exquisite 164 centimeters tall wooden statue, also stands at Daienji Temple. The Chinese style Shaka is the main attraction since the temple was built in 1624 by a priest named Daikai. The statue is kept closed inside a separate hall and is open to the public only on special occasions. This small historical temple is worth a visit and does not take long to tour.

Meguro Parasitological Museum

The Meguro Parasitological Museum is said to be the only museum in the world dedicated to parasites. This one of a kind museum is located in an eight-story, brown brick building 15 minutes' walk from Meguro Station. Meguro Parasitological Museum displays over 300 varieties of parasites, besides interactive displays that allow you to see exactly what parasites inhabit Japan and what they can do to you. The first floor of the museum presents a general overview of parasites, while the second floor focuses on the parasite life cycle of the different specimen.

The museum was started by Satoru Kamegai (1909-2002) with his private funds as a research facility in 1953. Ever since its establishment, it has achieved great success, thanks to the private sector volunteers, as well as the assistance of the government.

Museum activities include research; exhibitions; education; collecting, organizing and maintaining specimens and materials; and Sale of Specimens for Educational Purposes . A museum shop is also located on the second floor, which offers original parasite-related museum materials and books for sale.