This ancient shrine has been rebuilt every 20 years since the eighth century.

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

This brothel-turned-restaurant features plenty of surprises and elaborate, extravagant architecture.

A mysterious set of tunnels carved in the hills of rural northern Kyushu.

The floats housed in this hall are more than 100 years old, and are brought out for an annual celebration.

A moss-covered statue of a Japanese Buddhist deity stands at a quiet temple in downtown Osaka.

This bar is filled with Star Wars merchandise from around the world, all of it unlicensed knockoffs.

An unlikely hit, this museum is dedicated to the inventor of instant ramen and cup noodles.

An abandoned Art Deco hotel nestled on the side of a wooded mountain.

The traditional houses along the coast of this charming Japanese fishing village allow people to sleep above the sea.

A remote and slightly overgrown park filled with replicas of world landmarks.

Fans line up at the crack of dawn for a slurpy bowl of deliciousness at this noodle counter inside a factory.

Japanese island famous for poison gas and fluffy bunnies.

The hometown of a beloved manga artist created a treasure hunt for his popular ghostly characters.

This bridge is so steep it looks like a rollercoaster.

What's believed to be the country's first shrine is, in Shintō mythology, the annual meeting place of the gods.

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

This phallic temple was erected in the forest to honor the tragic death of a samurai lord's son.

Hidden by the roadside in the Iya Valley, this gem brings together folk monsters and the region's unique geography.

Though technically an illegal structure, this eclectic DIY apartment complex is beloved by its residents.

High in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture, a magnificent library designed by a world-famous architect.

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

Once the most densely populated place in the world, this island is now a ghost town.

This town near Nagasaki is flecked with fruit-flavored bus stops.