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

A 17th-century Shinto shrine that is home to statues of Mickey Mouse and Pikachu.

Kawaii meets poisonous at this unique art gallery.

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

A quaint amusement park now sits, rusting and forgotten among the foliage.

This 14th-century temple is also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" for its gorgeous gilded reliquary hall.

Nestled in an unassuming residential area, this "forbidden forest" is rumored to spirit away those who dare to enter.

This traditional Japanese-style house doubles as one of James Turrell's colorful works of art.

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

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

The cutest shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to bunnies.

A network of sandy streets lined with verdant fukugi trees weaves throughout this tiny seaside town.

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

This ruined Japanese stripclub sits half burnt to the ground.

Largest graveyard in all of Japan surrounds a famous mausoleum.

Giant sand sculptures of famous people and places are on display near the Tottori sand dunes.

These Japanese gardens are blankets of light for dark winter nights.

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

This sawtooth mountain range still bears the strangely lovely marks of its history as a medieval quarry.

This sprawling scenic burial ground is the final resting place of Japan's last shogun.

This pair of small sea rocks has been "wed" using rope and ancient Shinto tradition.

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

A rare festival blending religion, blacksmiths, vagina dentata, sex workers, and the straight-up facts of life.

This ancient temple is set up to take you on a pilgrimage of self.