This massive wooden building contains a giant Buddha, healing pillars, and tame deer wandering the grounds.

This 14th-century temple is also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" for its gorgeous gilded reliquary hall.

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

Unusual hexagonal rocks formed by cooling lava named for their resemblance to traditional Japanese tatami mats.

With over 12,000 different species of plants, this botanical garden is Japan's oldest and most diverse.

An ordinary pond with fish from out of this world.

The self-mummified monks of Japan.

Twelve hundred stone carvings guard this off-the-beaten-path Buddhist temple.

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

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

Nine Gardens in one—with tea service.

On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.

The sound of swaying stalks in this stunning grove has been named a governmentally recognized sound.

Hot springs monkey spa in the middle of Hell's Valley.

The magical, mossy forest that inspired Princess Mononoke.

Hanging over one of Japan's "hidden valleys," these vine bridges must be remade every three years.

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

1,001 carved statues of the Buddhist God of Mercy, each with a unique face.

The quintessential Japanese rock garden has existed for more than 500 years.

A beautiful bamboo trail tucked in this famous Japanese Shrine.

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