A Japanese concept restaurant that feels like a party thrown by the monsters in your closet.

Founded in 1880, this humble brewery still practices a disappearing technique of sake-making.

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

A monk-run winery inside a Buddhist temple celebrates Japan's crown grape varietal.

A dilapidated amusement park with a million-dollar view.

The iconic castle that withstood a magnitude 6.2 earthquake has become a symbol of resilience.

People from around the world visit the shrine of Japan’s legendarily loyal dog.

One of the world's largest tanks mimics the experience of watching rare whale sharks, giant rays, and deep sea creatures from the ocean floor.

Be a ninja - or just act like one.

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

Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

Cherry blossom season comes early in this Japanese town where pink flowers line the streets and riverbanks.

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

A Japanese cat island also populated by the descendants of a band of banished samurai.

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

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

The self-mummified monks of Japan.

Nine Gardens in one—with tea service.

After a profound show of devotion for his master, a dog becomes the symbol of loyalty for an entire nation.

Once a black market electronics marketplace, now an otaku shopper's paradise.

Japanese national treasure originally built in 593 CE.

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

1,001 carved statues of the Buddhist God of Mercy, each with a unique face.

This Buddhist temple is home to the graves of the Japanese national legends, the 47 Ronin.