Daikon radishes are offered to the Japanese Buddhist counterpart of the Hindu god Ganesha at this historic hilltop temple.

Stuck in a bygone era, the oldest subterranean shopping street in Japan hides beneath the popular Asakusa district of Tokyo.

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way—to keep demons at bay.

Although damaged beyond recognition, this stone god is still said to bring good luck to those who tap on him with a pebble.

This one-of-a-kind indie publisher-bookshop specializes in archiving historic red-light districts and niche cultural topics of the Shōwa era.

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

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

Mythical beasts symbolizing the city of Tokyo guard a historic bridge.

A touching statue dedicated to Japan's first therapy dog.

The original location of the eponymous site of Japan’s Yayoi period is now lost in time.

The origin of this bizarre, ghostly idol is a local mystery, even to the temple it calls home.

This Japanese Manneken Pis gets new outfits for every occasion.

This museum celebrates the history of Japanese advertising, from feudal business tricks to modern T.V. commercials.

A lonely chimpanzee lures you into a narrow alley leading to this hidden shrine.

This park boasts a unusual collection of curious monuments from around the world, from Micronesia to Antarctica.

A bibliophile's heaven that contains hundreds of bookstores, offering over a third of secondhand books for sale in Tokyo.

This retro café is a remnant of Japan’s post-war Argentine tango craze.

The bartenders at this crime-fighting theme cafe are actual private detectives by day.

A hole-in-the-wall antiquities museum in one of Tokyo's most popular megamalls.

This adorable birdlike police box is designed based on a play on words.

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

This bizarre residential building is the masterpiece of Von Jour Caux, the “Gaudí of Japan.”

Discover the mummified remains of Ancient Egypt in the middle of metropolitan Tokyo.

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