A wooden prison doesn't sound like a good idea, yet this abandoned 1950s detention center still stands today.

According to one legend, this bridge was crafted after monkeys formed a body-bridge across the gorge.

A 14th-century European chapel sticks out of the facade of a Japanese hotel.

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way—to keep demons at bay.

A moss-covered statue of a Japanese Buddhist deity stands at a quiet temple in downtown Osaka.

Shrine to Japanese water-goblins, complete with their preserved body parts.

This ancient shrine has been rebuilt every 20 years since the eighth century.

Although damaged beyond recognition, this stone god is still said to bring good luck to those who tap on him with a pebble.

This pair of small sea rocks has been "wed" using rope and ancient Shinto tradition.

Eat the ultimate iteration of Portugal's most beloved pastry.

This Industrial Age architectural and engineering gem helps visitors and residents alike traverse Lisbon, “The City of Seven Hills.”

Inside a Scottish castle hangs the tattered remains of a flag with murky origins and supposed magic powers.

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

Colloquially known as “piss alley,” this narrow street filled with tiny bars and barbecue stands looks like it was pulled straight out of “Blade Runner.”

A King Kong-like gorilla hangs from the top of this commercial building in Tokyo.

Tokyo’s only Vaudeville-cuckoo clock–steampunk-Victorian curio cabinet time piece.

Abandoned for decades, trains still pass through the now-restored remains of one of Madrid's first metro stations.

Meant to resemble a massive tree, the building is the best example of Spanish organicist architecture in Madrid.

This funky former tobacco factory is one of the most striking examples of Madrid's cultural diversity.

The largest known Ancient Egyptian obelisk.

Ozymandias’ time-keeping temple.

Europe's official "zero-level," the equator of elevation.

Museum preserving torture methods from the past.

The world's first zoo for microbes collecting the horrible and wonderful things living on and around us.