This dazzling three-story shop showcases the art and history of music boxes, a popular novelty in Japan.

In 806, Kobo Daishi began meditating on Mount Misen. The Buddhist monk lit this holy fire, which has been kept burning for 1,200 years.

The world's narrowest strait is often mistaken for a canal.

This airy five-floor library and museum houses thousands of books and rotating exhibits on Japanese monsters and anime.

A small museum in a ward on the east side of Tokyo showcases the works of one of Japan's greatest ukiyo-e artists.

An LED art installation composed of 600 poles wrapped in kimono fabric.

These sculptures were created by a 17th-century artist who had never seen an elephant.

The seat of the lost Ryukyu Kingdom has survived numerous fires and wars over the centuries.

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

Is this cat asleep or just pretending?

The hometown of a beloved manga artist created a treasure hunt for his popular ghostly characters.

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

This futuristic public park includes large sculptures and an artificial geyser.

This enormous "shamoji" means more to the people of Miyajima than just a way getting rice onto a plate.

Have a soak at this retro bathhouse, where you will find Japan's first electric bath, tiling from Spain, and wood carvings representing the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.

This whimsical garbage disposal facility receives around 12,000 accidental tourists each year.

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way—to keep demons at bay.

These Japanese ruins have been brought back to life with elaborately recreated buildings.

An eerie reminder to the horrors of World War II.

High in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture, a magnificent library designed by a world-famous architect.

One of the world's largest ancient burial mounds.

Japan's largest collection of Western-style mansions in the port city of Kobe includes a recreation of Sherlock Holmes' 221B Baker Street quarters.

Shrine dedicated to boars that is believed to cure foot and leg injuries.

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