Colloquially known as “piss alley,” this narrow street filled with tiny bars and barbecue stands looks like it was pulled straight out of “Blade Runner.”

A Buddhist temple to honor insects that died for science.

Starship-temple contains 400 tons of drinking water and offers free Japanese lessons.

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

An ordinary pond with fish from out of this world.

A restaurant modeled after feudal Japan, where the waitstaff are trained as ninjas.

The freshest fish here are the ones you catch yourself.

This “peasant café” in the middle of Tokyo re-creates the atmosphere of the Japanese countryside.

The legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko is dotted with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.

After a profound show of devotion for his master, a dog becomes the symbol of loyalty for an entire nation.

This historical theme park celebrates all things noodle.

1,001 carved statues of the Buddhist God of Mercy, each with a unique face.

A 70-foot-deep ice cave formed by lava from Mt. Fuji on the edge of Japan's "Suicide Forest." 

This Buddhist temple is home to the graves of the Japanese national legends, the 47 Ronin.

This neighborhood thoroughfare is haunted by dozens of homemade monsters.

This spa theme park lets its guests take a dip in pools of coffee, wine, or ramen broth.

Bioluminescent firefly squid light up this Japanese fishing port.

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

A 20-meter (65-foot) robot towers over Tokyo Bay.

Experience park where visitors are told to expect the unexpected.

This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.

If Hello Kitty were Mickey Mouse, this would be Disneyland.

The magical, mossy forest that inspired Princess Mononoke.

Every autumn, this hillside is ablaze with red summer cypress.