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

According to one legend, this bridge was crafted after monkeys formed a body-bridge across the gorge.

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

Approximately 300 million years ago, a massive coral reef existed in what is now the largest limestone cave in Japan.

You can still find treasures on the pebbly beaches of one of the world's oldest jade-producing areas.

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

Elaborate series of tunnels where traces of mass suicide are still visible.

A steaming, boiling hellscape sources Hokkaido's thermal baths.

A disconnected rotary phone for "calling" lost loved ones offered a unique way of dealing with grief in disaster-stricken Japan.

This pair of small sea rocks has been "wed" using rope and ancient Shinto tradition.

The 43-mile route crosses through six islands with gorgeous views of the Seto Inland Sea.

Legend holds eating just one of these black eggs can add seven years to one's life.

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

Twelve hundred stone carvings guard this off-the-beaten-path Buddhist temple.

Shrine to Japanese water-goblins, complete with their preserved body parts.

The quintessential Japanese rock garden has existed for more than 500 years.

The freshest fish here are the ones you catch yourself.

This mesmerizingly colorful pond looks like a scene straight out of a fairytale.

Japanese national treasure originally built in 593 CE.

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

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

Hanging over one of Japan's "hidden valleys," these vine bridges must be remade every three years.

The 10,000 Torii shrine.