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

A sculpture that resurrected the only tree standing following the devastating 2011 tsunami.

Stone slabs along the coast warn of Japan's tsunami-ravaged past, often marking the highest point of a wave's reach.

These tiny pine-covered islands have inspired art and poetry for centuries.

One of the tallest statues in the world, and the tallest statue of a goddess in Japan.

Officially the lowest mountain in Japan.

The Buddhist temples of Yamadera, built into a mountain side, feature a viewing deck with sweeping views.

The self-mummified monks of Japan.

These wondrously illuminated caverns extend under the mountains of the Fukushima Prefecture.

Composed of scrap metal, a pair of platform-length murals chronicle Japan’s history, from the Big Bang to the development of modern Tokyo.

A sad reminder of the World War II bombing stands largely unnoticed on a street corner.

A museum dedicated to the history of Tokyo's often-overlooked working-class district.

Nestled in an unassuming residential area, this "forbidden forest" is rumored to spirit away those who dare to enter.

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

Thirty architectural gems from the 19th- and early 20th-century Tokyo were restored and relocated to this space.

This active volcano's siren song to suicide jumpers forced authorities to build a fence.

Sulphuric gases inhabit a beautiful Japanese island.

Cherry blossom season comes early in this Japanese town where pink flowers line the streets and riverbanks.

Once the main gateway to Tokyo, sneaking through this checkpoint was a capital offense in feudal times.

One in a pair of subterranean caves created by an ancient eruption of Mount Fuji.

The oldest hotel in the world has been operated by the same family for over 1,300 years, even catering to samurai.

The birthplace of Japanese coinage.

Each year this Japanese temple overflows with scowling, bearded good luck talismans.

This traditional Japanese-style house doubles as one of James Turrell's colorful works of art.