White beach sands made of the remains of tiny, star shaped creatures.

This subterranean spot might be the epitome of Japan's baroque, retro coffee houses.

This retro underwater observation tower would make the perfect lair for a sea-loving villain.

Japan's largest area of "pink moss" turns the hillside bright pink every spring.

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

Cherry blossom season comes early in this Japanese town where pink flowers line the streets and riverbanks.

Unusual hexagonal rocks formed by cooling lava named for their resemblance to traditional Japanese tatami mats.

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

A Japanese cat island also populated by the descendants of a band of banished samurai.

One of the first hotel rooms in a pod.

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

This pond is so stunning it looks like you've stepped into one of Monet's masterpieces.

The self-mummified monks of Japan.

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

An ordinary pond with fish from out of this world.

A massive cave complex boasts some of the clearest water (and most charming bats) in the world.

Japanese island famous for poison gas and fluffy bunnies.

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

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

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

Bioluminescent firefly squid light up this Japanese fishing port.

Hot springs monkey spa in the middle of Hell's Valley.

An exquisite tunnel of cascading flowers.

The sound of swaying stalks in this stunning grove has been named a governmentally recognized sound.