An off-the-beaten-path boutique stuffed with an eclectic collection of upcycled goods.

Sharks, stingrays, and turtles swim in the pools at this former elementary school.

Pilots from around the world come to this park to fly gliders.

This museum showcases the art of ancient sword-making.

A unique art exhibit home to letters addressed to those unable to receive them.

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

A small shrine dedicated to a god of lightning and electronics.

Ward off bad luck and fill your bottle with "the most watery water" at this little roadside shrine in Yonezawa.

Visitors to this temple are greeted by a massive collection of wooden dolls said to bring good fortune.

Disused for decades, this freight railway bridge is finally being renovated into a scenic promenade.

A lesser-known sister to Paris's world-famous museum, located within a Buddhist sculpture paradise.

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

The site where the poet Matsuo Bashō read one of the first haiku that comprise his famous travelogue.

An isolated "phantom bridge" doomed to crumble into ruin.

Would you spend the night in Japan's deepest train station?

The site where the famous city gate once stood, now in the middle of a playground.

This extremely naked God of Drunkards welcomes visitors to Kochi Station.

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

The first location of the eventual video game giant.

Though it won't take you far, the wood train housed at this station is the last of its kind in Japan.

The seat of the lost Ryukyu Kingdom has survived numerous fires and wars over the centuries.

These sculptures were created by a 17th-century artist who had never seen an elephant.

Composed of scrap metal, a pair of platform-length murals chronicle Japan’s history, from the Big Bang to the development of modern Tokyo.

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