A shrine dedicated to the sacred white snakes of Iwakuni, whose albinism has been passed down for generations.

The remains of the vast manor that once belonged to Lord Kira, villain in the 47 Ronin story, is now a shrine dedicated to the incident.

Only electricity pylon built over two lanes of traffic.

The birthplace of Japanese coinage.

A trio of keyhole-shaped burial mounds restored to their ancient glory.

Inaccessible by foot, Japan's most secluded train station sits in the middle of nowhere.

Nestled amid the trees lies an abandoned funicular railway that dates back to the 1920s.

A Buddhist temple on an artificial island that houses a monument to the fugu fish.

A train station decorated by a giant replica of an ancient Shakōki-dogū figurine.

This often-overlooked monument was crafted in the shape of the iconic samurai coin to honor an Edo-period mint.

The site of a famous samurai duel.

A unique Shinto shrine filled with bunnies and wordplay.

For centuries, this gold mine was the powerhouse behind the Tokugawa Shogunate.

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

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

The former home of queer novelist Yoshiya Nobuko memorializes her contributions to modern-day manga.

The only Buddhist temple in Japan dedicated to breasts.

This massive, Edo Period, coin-shaped sand painting is believed to be a source of great luck.

This Metabolist, retro-futuristic residential complex resembles a cyberpunk space colony established on Earth.

The largest archaeological site from the Yayoi period.

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

Unbeknownst to most passersby, this marble statue standing outside an office building is a genuine piece of second-century Rome.

This village is home to the largest existing settlement of the Ainu, the Indigenous people of Japan.

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