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

Tokyo’s only Ainu restaurant serves Indigenous food from northern Japan.

A remarkable lava formation encloses a line of Buddhist statues that can't be accurately counted, according to local mythology.

The world's largest drain sits below the city of Kasukabe, Japan.

This retro underwater observation tower would make the perfect lair for a sea-loving villain.

A rare festival blending religion, blacksmiths, vagina dentata, sex workers, and the straight-up facts of life.

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

Enormous underground chamber built to detect 'ghost particles' of the universe.

A disconnected rotary phone for "calling" lost loved ones offered a unique way of dealing with grief in disaster-stricken Japan.

We heard you like volcanoes so we put a volcano in your volcano so you can die for sure...

Abandoned Japanese ghost town gives a glimpse into what our own metropolises may leave behind.

A Japanese cat island also populated by the descendants of a band of banished samurai.

Coast along one of Japan’s mountain railways for coveted views of magnificent hydrangeas.

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

Starship-temple contains 400 tons of drinking water and offers free Japanese lessons.

A Buddhist temple to honor insects that died for science.

A bronze statue dating back as far as 1252, still has remnants of gold on its right cheek from ancient gilding.

The only thing sweeter than the potatoes is the canine proprietor of this roadside stall.

Steaming blood-red hot spring from hell.

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

This isolated Japanese mountain village untouched by time showcases unique and stunning traditional architecture.

One of Japan's most famous sights, the bridge was originally built in 1673.

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

The self-mummified monks of Japan.