Unlikely place for krautrock legends to hang out.

A World War II battle site made famous by one man's heroic actions.

Exploring crime and punishment in feudal and pre-modern Japan.

An old-fashioned school with interesting grounds and deep history, including the original Mito Castle gate.

This public bathroom takes the form of a 19th-century lighthouse that once stood on the spot.

A stretch of the Iwai River that features beautiful rocky cliffs, rapids, and flying dango.

This extremely naked God of Drunkards welcomes visitors to Kochi Station.

This infamous execution site inspired the beginning of Japan's modernization in the late 18th-century.

The largest of its kind in Japan, this century-old wasabi farm is also known for its appearance in an Akira Kurosawa film.

The oldest academic institution in Japan provides a glimpse of university life during the days of the samurai.

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

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

The site of a famous samurai duel.

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

This gnome sculpture and his wonderous hat forces train passengers to do a double-take.

These unconventional "tub boats" let locals row around the island's turbulent coast.

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

Dedicated to the armor and weapons used by the legendary Japanese warriors.

An eerie reminder to the horrors of World War II.

Birthplace of the Tendai sect and home to the marathon monks.

Narrow passes cut out of mountains surround the medieval capital of Japan.

This incredible mountainside temple is home to intriguing statues of demon-like creatures.

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

Turn around and stick your head between your legs for the best view of this tree-covered sandbar.