Drinkslinger is an unlikely vocation for a Buddhist monk, but at this Tokyo bar the enlightenment is served in a martini glass.

A Buddhist temple to honor insects that died for science.

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.”

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

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

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

The legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko is dotted with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.

The site where the famous city gate once stood, now in the middle of a playground.

The first location of the eventual video game giant.

Access to this hidden site of a 14th-century mass suicide is prohibited, unless it is to pray for the dead.

These sculptures were created by a 17th-century artist who had never seen an elephant.

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

A few hidden stones are said to bring fortune and love.

A shrine dedicated to a 10th-century samurai emperor, whose head is not buried on site (contrary to popular belief).

It is said that coins washed in the waters here will miraculously multiply.

Only the face remains of this giant Buddha statue, which is said to be a source of luck for students.

Have a soak at this retro bathhouse, where you will find Japan's first electric bath, tiling from Spain, and wood carvings representing the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.

More than 300 years old, Kyoto's historic "teahouse" still operates as an invitation-only geisha club.

Believed to hold the remains of Japan's most infamous fox spirit, this stone is said to kill those who dare approach.

One of the few surviving World War II-era air-raid shelters in Tokyo.

This brothel-turned-restaurant features plenty of surprises and elaborate, extravagant architecture.

Although it has never been a secret ninja base, this shrine still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

When this clock strikes a certain time, puppets showcase a story of life in Edo Japan.

The site of Japan’s first archaeological excavation is also the birthplace of fingerprint forensics.