Located in a remote mountain valley in Yamagata Prefecture, these hot springs have attracted bathers for over 450 years.

The "largest bathroom stall in the world" offers a unique pit-stop experience.

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

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

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.

Inaccessible by foot, Japan's most secluded train station sits in the middle of nowhere.

Daikon radishes are offered to the Japanese Buddhist counterpart of the Hindu god Ganesha at this historic hilltop temple.

The site of a famous samurai duel.

Chiseled out of a sandstone cliff, one farmer's unfinished art project lies in ruins.

Is this cat asleep or just pretending?

A culturally significant rural temple in the beautiful mountains of Itoshima.

Huts like this were once a hub for the female divers who collected pearls and seafood off Japan's coasts.

This museum showcases the art of ancient sword-making.

This phallic temple was erected in the forest to honor the tragic death of a samurai lord's son.

Passengers are not allowed to set foot outside this station, but you can still enjoy spectacular views of the sea from the platform.

Once the main gateway to Tokyo, sneaking through this checkpoint was a capital offense in feudal times.

These unconventional "tub boats" let locals row around the island's turbulent coast.

This massive, beautifully-lit underground quarry leaves visitors in awe.

Believed to hold the remains of Japan's most infamous fox spirit, this stone is said to kill those who dare approach.

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

The only Buddhist temple in Japan dedicated to breasts.

Although it has never been a secret ninja base, this shrine still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

Stone slabs along the coast warn of Japan's tsunami-ravaged past, often marking the highest point of a wave's reach.