Losing lottery tickets are deposited at this shrine in hopes of better luck.

Rubbing salt on this small stone dog is said to make wishes come true.

A train ride to the middle of nowhere gives its passengers some of the most iconic views of Japan's seasons.

The first location of the eventual video game giant.

With over 12,000 different species of plants, this botanical garden is Japan's oldest and most diverse.

The “bridge of return” is haunted by a myriad of legends, from ghosts to demons to nuptial superstitions.

These turtle-shaped concrete stepping stones provide a unique river crossing in central Kyoto.

It is believed that this Buddhist temple stands right on the gateway to the underworld.

Crawl through the hole in the middle of this stone to break off a bad relationship or initiate a good one.

An ancient Greek physician is honored as a god at this hole-in-the-wall shrine.

An eerie cluster of medieval cave-like tombs carved out of a cliff, hidden in a historic mountain pass.

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

A collection of nostalgic items from the Showa era with an exhibit on the local ghost story of the Snow Woman.

The strange “kaiju” of Lake Imba that allegedly killed over a dozen men with a single strike of lightning.

Home to thousands of dolls from around the world, including the "blue-eyed dolls" that came to Japan as American ambassadors.

A narrow, dead-end alley hides with a small fox shrine and the untold history of Yokohama's historic red-light district.

The remains of a prehistoric settlement with a museum showcasing fascinating archaeological finds next to modern artworks.

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

A unique Shinto shrine filled with bunnies and wordplay.

A rare festival blending religion, blacksmiths, vagina dentata, sex workers, and the straight-up facts of life.

One of the largest producers of MSG in the world welcomes visitors to its Kawasaki factory with an albino panda named Aji-Kun.

Oddly touching memorial to a little-remembered nuclear tragedy.

Rice balls symbolize fate and relationship at this adorable shrine, which was once dedicated to the Buddhist Devil.

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