Freaky field guide: Tokyo's top 10 mythical beasts

Everyone knows Tokyo's home to some pretty strange inhabitants. No, we aren't talking about the ones you wake up next to after a long night in Kabukicho or Roppongi. Even weirder than that.

And much, much older. Creatures from myth, legend, fairy tales, arcane religious texts. They're there, lurking quietly in the shadows ... and sometimes right out in the open.

Don't believe us? We don't blame you. That's why we prepared a little roadmap. The kind of thing you won't find in any guidebook.

And the best part is, the stops are all 100 percent real. Hang on, it's going to be a strange trip ...

1. Kirin

Drink a few too many Kirin Ichibans and you could well be seeing these in your house.

Description: A mythical beast said to hail from China. It may look ferocious, but it actuality punishes the wicked, eats only fruits and vegetables and is seen as an all-around harbinger of good fortune.

Trivia: Giraffes are also known as kirin in Japanese, as scholars confused the African animal for the mythical creature when they first learned of it.

How to find one: This is easy. Go to the convenience store and purchase a six-pack of Kirin Beer. You'll find the Kirin right on the label -- and who knows, perhaps right before your eyes if you slam those "tall boys" quickly enough.

2. Nue

The Nue -- that's one mixed-up scary mutha.

Description: A Japanese chimera. Head of a monkey, body of a tiger, tail of a poisonous snake. Bad news all around if you encounter one -- Nue are said to induce sickness in any who so much as lay eyes on one.

Trivia: The A-list anime company “Studio Nue” takes its name from this creature.

How to find one: Give it up. It’s too dangerous to track one down. But you can see the next best thing at the Tokyo National Museum -- a ceremonial katana sword bestowed upon Minamoto no Yorimasa for felling a Nue that was harassing the Emperor back in 1153.

3. Baku

Dream eater, take away my worries of today ...

Description: Superficially resembling the animals called tapirs (which, not coincidentally, are also called baku in Japanese), these stout creatures with elephant-like noses are voracious eaters ... of dreams.

Trivia: Chanting “I give this dream to you, Baku” after a nightmare will ensure you never see the bad dream ever again.

How to find one: Baku are commonly used as design elements in Buddhist temples. Look up at the eaves of a temple next time you visit -- you might just see a Baku looking back at you. The Yakuoin Temple atop Mount Takao is a good place to start.