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

This Kyoto Starbucks takes coffee drinkers back in time.

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

A King Kong-like gorilla hangs from the top of this commercial building in Tokyo.

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

The tallest bronze seated statue of the Buddha in Japan.

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

A remarkable lava formation encloses a line of Buddhist statues that can't be accurately counted, according to local mythology.

Coast along one of Japan’s mountain railways for coveted views of magnificent hydrangeas.

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

A real-life replica of a home from Hayao Miyazaki's beloved movie "My Neighbor Totoro."

A Japanese corporation has turned this small island town into living modern art gallery.

One of the first hotel rooms in a pod.

With over 12,000 different species of plants, this botanical garden is Japan's oldest and most diverse.

A bronze statue dating back as far as 1252, still has remnants of gold on its right cheek from ancient gilding.

This isolated Japanese mountain village untouched by time showcases unique and stunning traditional architecture.

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.

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

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

A beautiful bamboo trail tucked in this famous Japanese Shrine.

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

Open-air museum with an elaborate sculpture garden, stretching for over 70,000 square-meters.

Not quite the menace it once was, this monster still has some chops.