A small Japanese village claims to be the final resting place of the son of God (and God's other son's ear).

A dilapidated amusement park with a million-dollar view.

A statue erected on an infamous cliff where young boys would hold dangerous "pee offs" to prove their mettle.

This giant bronze Buddha, the third largest in Japan, is the last in an ill-fated series of statues.

Devoted Buddhists can earn enlightenment in the next life by crawling through this symbolic nostril.

The iconic castle that withstood a magnitude 6.2 earthquake has become a symbol of resilience.

This ordinary set of steps is a must-see destination for fans of a certain romantic anime.

This mountain's identity is stuck somewhere between a nightmare and a scenic tourist attraction.

This high-design church is made up of two dizzying spirals meant to evoke the weaving together of marriage.

Inside the columbarium, thousands of colorful, high-tech Buddhas guard the ashes of the dead.

A network of sandy streets lined with verdant fukugi trees weaves throughout this tiny seaside town.

A museum dedicated to the history of Tokyo's often-overlooked working-class district.

This Kyoto Starbucks takes coffee drinkers back in time.

One of the world's largest tanks mimics the experience of watching rare whale sharks, giant rays, and deep sea creatures from the ocean floor.

Burial mound for the ears and noses of thousands of mutilated Korean soldiers.

A calico cat named Tama was the wildly popular Super Station Master at this train stop in southeast Japan.

A massive wintry wall of snow up to 66 feet tall flanks a highway through Japan's mountains.

Founded over a thousand years ago, this shrine is said to be built on the site of a warlord's harem prison.

Children's literature inside, forest all around.

The Buddhist temples of Yamadera, built into a mountain side, feature a viewing deck with sweeping views.

Each year this Japanese temple overflows with scowling, bearded good luck talismans.

Largest graveyard in all of Japan surrounds a famous mausoleum.

The divine septet of Japanese fortune gods are rendered in 1,000 year old wood at this peaceful site.

Giant animal sculptures are created with the rice straw leftover from the fall harvest each year.