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Japan's New Instagram Hotspot Is a...Poop Museum

Feb. 19, 2019
3 min read
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Japan's New Instagram Hotspot Is a...Poop Museum
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Welcome to 2019 — the year that Instagram pop-ups have fully reached their peak. At least, we hope so.

Aligning with Japan's cherry blossom season, a new pop-up museum is set to open this spring in Yokohama — a port city adjacent to Tokyo, easily accessible by bullet train. The Unko Museum, which will be open from March 15 to July 15, will offer Instagram-friendly photo ops and interactive spaces.

What is unko exactly? Well, unko in Japanese translates to poop. Yes, you read that correctly. A poop-themed pop-up. Whoever didn't think to call it a poop-up really dropped the ball.

So, are you ready to see the photos? Don't worry — it's not what you may be thinking. The poops here are colorful, covered in glitter and totally photo-worthy.

The Unko Museum will have three poop-themed zones that are sure to exceed all of your colorful crap-filled fantasies. Each zone plays on the word unko. The 'un'stagenic zone offers a photo-friendly space for guests to pose alongside giant poop swirls in a pretty Pepto-Bismol-pink room. The adorable, pastel-colored swirls truly make for an Instagram masterpiece.

There's plenty of fun to be had at this unique museum. For starters, you can dive head-first into a pile of poop. Just when you thought you had a great childhood digging through the ball pits at Chuck-E-Cheese, this generation takes it to the next level and creates a poop pit with a giant poop statue as the focal point. If you rather sit this part out, pull up a stool-shaped stool and hang back at one of the tables, which are in the shape of.. well, you get it at this point.

The 'un'teractive zone is where you'll find yourself surrounded by swirls of unko with eyeballs staring back at you. Here, you can play a lovely game of kuso (Japanese for sh*t), which involves stepping on poo-pile light projections in order to splatter them. Fun!

Don't think all this excrement excitement is just for kids. The museum encourages adults to return to their childhood to enjoy all of the installations.

The final section is the 'un'telligence zone. In this area, guests are welcomed to admire an exhibition of paintings, art and unko-themed souvenirs from around the world. If you find the work inspiring, you can even make your own painting.

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A visit to Unko Museum will not be complete without a picture with the official mascot, 'Unberuto.' Just look out for the life-sized piece of poo walking around with a toilet under his arm.

Tickets for the museum can be purchased for 1600 yen (about $14.50) for adults and 900 yen (about $8) for kids. Advanced ticket purchase is suggested.

If you have plans to visit Japan in the next few months, this museum is a must-doo doo. Even if it's not the number one stop on your list, it definitely should be number two.

So, what are you waiting for? Find out how to get to Japan on points and miles here.

h/t TimeOut Tokyo

All images by Unko Museum via its website.

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  • Intro Offer

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    $325
  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.