The world's shortest escalator doesn't seem to have any reason to exist other than to hold a world record.

A 20-meter (65-foot) robot towers over Tokyo Bay.

This village is home to the largest existing settlement of the Ainu, the Indigenous people of Japan.

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

This 400-year-old sweet shop serves a delicacy some have described as "edible incense."

More than 300 years old, Kyoto's historic "teahouse" still operates as an invitation-only geisha club.

This kitsch-forward diner is dedicated to an almost-forgotten “one-cent” prototype of okonomiyaki.

The groundbreaking Japanese shrine maiden who invented the art of kabuki.

This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.

This garden located inside a bamboo forest once belonged to a famous Japanese actor.

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

An LED art installation composed of 600 poles wrapped in kimono fabric.

Construction of Barcelona's iconic (but controversial) church is expected to be completed in 2026—a century after the death of its architect.

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

The inspiration for the Patagonia Clothing logo, Cerro Fitz Roy turns pink at sunrise.

One of the tallest statues in the world, and the tallest statue of a goddess in Japan.

On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.

These tiny pine-covered islands have inspired art and poetry for centuries.

Although damaged beyond recognition, this stone god is still said to bring good luck to those who tap on him with a pebble.

A Buddhist temple to honor insects that died for science.

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

Take a few seconds to look at this abandoned, art-filled station as you pass by on the subway to Ueno.

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

A Buddhist temple on an artificial island that houses a monument to the fugu fish.