A cool dive bar, off the beaten track.

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

This town near Nagasaki is flecked with fruit-flavored bus stops.

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

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

The divine septet of Japanese fortune gods are rendered in 1,000 year old wood at this peaceful site.

This retro underwater observation tower would make the perfect lair for a sea-loving villain.

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

Coast along one of Japan’s mountain railways for coveted views of magnificent hydrangeas.

A disconnected rotary phone for "calling" lost loved ones offered a unique way of dealing with grief in disaster-stricken Japan.

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

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

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

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

Colloquially known as “piss alley,” this narrow street filled with tiny bars and barbecue stands looks like it was pulled straight out of “Blade Runner.”

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

One of the first hotel rooms in a pod.

The bartenders at this crime-fighting theme cafe are actual private detectives by day.

This pond is so stunning it looks like you've stepped into one of Monet's masterpieces.

Steaming blood-red hot spring from hell.

Japanese company creates clone dolls that reside in the "uncanny valley."

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

The legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko is dotted with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.

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