The remains of the vast manor that once belonged to Lord Kira, villain in the 47 Ronin story, is now a shrine dedicated to the incident.

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

Devoted Buddhists can earn enlightenment in the next life by crawling through this symbolic nostril.

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

The tallest bronze seated statue of the Buddha in Japan.

Blowtorches, tuna, and a jolly, chain-smoking proprietor mark this beloved street-food stand.

Hot springs monkey spa in the middle of Hell's Valley.

On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.

A remnant of Korea's colonial past lies forgotten in a hip neighborhood in Seoul.

Thirty architectural gems from the 19th- and early 20th-century Tokyo were restored and relocated to this space.

Oddly touching memorial to a little-remembered nuclear tragedy.

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

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

A tiny cafe that recreates the Japanese elementary school lunch experience.

A museum dedicated to the history of Tokyo's often-overlooked working-class district.

An unexpected curiosity cabinet hidden within a department store in the Japan Post tower.

This ordinary set of steps is a must-see destination for fans of a certain romantic anime.

Drinkslinger is an unlikely vocation for a Buddhist monk, but at this Tokyo bar the enlightenment is served in a martini glass.

Go through the looking glass in Tokyo's Wonderland-themed shop.

An ordinary pond with fish from out of this world.

The oldest hotel in the world has been operated by the same family for over 1,300 years, even catering to samurai.

A restaurant modeled after feudal Japan, where the waitstaff are trained as ninjas.

Shrine to Japanese water-goblins, complete with their preserved body parts.

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