After a short 5 year run, this former major theme park sits in ruin.

Unlikely place for krautrock legends to hang out.

Cabaret where the show girls are all androids, and the patrons couldn't be more pleased.

The largest example of the “snail well” unique to the Musashino Plateau region.

The site of one of the only two star-shaped forts in Japan was used as an elementary school for over a century, much longer than its life as a castle.

This prehistoric site is home to the largest shell midden cluster in Japan.

A relatively young Buddhist temple on hilltop, dedicated to a statue relocated from Mount Atago.

This statue of the "shiny uncle of Beppu" was erected in 2007.

The remains of a prehistoric settlement with a museum showcasing fascinating archaeological finds next to modern artworks.

This former factory contains an amazing collection of around 400 mint-condition Nissan cars.

“Historical” markers commemorating the sites of fictional events depicted in a popular jidaigeki novel series.

Nestled among the bamboos in a temple complex, this art installation serves as a unique memorial to insects.

This site commemorates the life of a Japanese scientist who dedicated his life to the discovery of diseases.

A hidden alley with seven corners and handmade cat decorations.

This traditional Japanese shrine is dedicated to four Shinto deities.

The strange “kaiju” of Lake Imba that allegedly killed over a dozen men with a single strike of lightning.

Hundreds of statues of Buddha’s disciples meditating, napping, sneezing, and picking their noses.

A town's namesake rock has served as a spiritual matchmaker for hundreds of years.

This atmospheric pre-war building is home to one of the few manually operated elevators left in Tokyo.

The origin of this bizarre, ghostly idol is a local mystery, even to the temple it calls home.

This iconic “station bento” comes in an earthenware pot you can take home and repurpose.

This mythical weapon stuck on the mountaintop is also the site of the first honeymoon in Japan's history.

A strip of traditional hand towel serves as an admission ticket at this modern tenugui museum.

This sculpture bears a tragic backstory that may have inspired a hauntingly beautiful children's song.