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

Only the face remains of this giant Buddha statue, which is said to be a source of luck for students.

This quirky little private museum is home to more than a thousand stones, carved by nature, that resemble human faces.

Dedicated to the armor and weapons used by the legendary Japanese warriors.

Established over a thousand years ago, this family-run teahouse continues to serve skewers of sweet rice cake to this day.

One of the largest producers of MSG in the world welcomes visitors to its Kawasaki factory with an albino panda named Aji-Kun.

Existing for more than four centuries, the last of Hakone’s historic teahouses serves a sweet, mold-based rice drink.

After being lost for decades, this striking mural depicting the atomic bomb covers the wall of a busy Tokyo metro station.

Weighing nearly 7 tons, this massive sculpture was carved out of 500-year-old wood and decorated with thousands of jewels.

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

One of Kyoto's oldest food establishments has supplied soba noodles to temple priests and the Imperial Palace.

A railway station takeout shop sells boxed meals in containers shaped like trains and snowmen that hold the country’s abundant regional delicacies.

Drinkslinger is an unlikely vocation for a Buddhist monk, but at this Tokyo bar the enlightenment is served in a martini glass.

Meet the world's longest tapeworm in a collection that really gets under your skin.

Museum showcases Japanese sexuality and some amazing ocean views.

The only thing sweeter than the potatoes is the canine proprietor of this roadside stall.

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

Transport yourself to the 1980s era of video games at this themed restaurant and bar.

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

This massive wooden building contains a giant Buddha, healing pillars, and tame deer wandering the grounds.

Every autumn, this hillside is ablaze with red summer cypress.