A calico cat named Tama was the wildly popular Super Station Master at this train stop in southeast Japan.

Shells collected from over a hundred different countries line the walls, floors and ceilings of this fantasy museum.

White beach sands made of the remains of tiny, star shaped creatures.

The ruins of Japan’s premier water brothel.

Closed for decades, this strange symbol of Japan's Expo '70 has finally opened its psychedelic insides to the public.

A tiny cafe that recreates the Japanese elementary school lunch experience.

Historical Japanese-Dutch relations are honored with haunted rides and flower fields in this replica town.

This sawtooth mountain range still bears the strangely lovely marks of its history as a medieval quarry.

A restaurant modeled after feudal Japan, where the waitstaff are trained as ninjas.

This ancient temple is set up to take you on a pilgrimage of self.

A massive cave complex boasts some of the clearest water (and most charming bats) in the world.

Not quite the menace it once was, this monster still has some chops.

Reportedly 1,400 years old, this may be the first of the Fiji Mermaids.

A 20-meter (65-foot) robot towers over Tokyo Bay.

Steaming blood-red hot spring from hell.

This Buddhist temple is home to the graves of the Japanese national legends, the 47 Ronin.

After a profound show of devotion for his master, a dog becomes the symbol of loyalty for an entire nation.

The freshest fish here are the ones you catch yourself.

This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.

Japan's corrupt-mental-institution themed restaurant offers diners a chance to eat inside of filthy cells.

A 70-foot-deep ice cave formed by lava from Mt. Fuji on the edge of Japan's "Suicide Forest." 

The magical, mossy forest that inspired Princess Mononoke.

A Japanese concept restaurant that feels like a party thrown by the monsters in your closet.

This spa theme park lets its guests take a dip in pools of coffee, wine, or ramen broth.