Gallery of fantastic creatures

Gensou Hyouhon Hakubustukan (”Museum of Fantastic Specimens”) is an online collection of creatures “curated” by Hajime Emoto. The three-story virtual museum consists of 9 rooms chock full of water- and land-dwelling monstrosities from all corners of the globe. Each specimen has a thumbnail that displays more photos and historical and background information (entirely in Japanese). The cafeteria in the basement serves dishes prepared using some of the beasts featured in the museum. All of the creatures showcased in the museum are sculpted from paper, modeling paste and bamboo and are completely imaginary, claims Emoto — disheartening news for believers in the legendary tsuchinoko (pictured above, on the right in the middle).

http://www.pinktentacle.com/2006/07/gallery-of-fantastic-creatures/