An abandoned giant glass dome sits in the bay in “the Venice of the East.”

Fans line up at the crack of dawn for a slurpy bowl of deliciousness at this noodle counter inside a factory.

A bovine sumo match in which both bulls live to fight another day.

Sulphuric gases inhabit a beautiful Japanese island.

Giant animal sculptures are created with the rice straw leftover from the fall harvest each year.

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

This little replica of Lady Liberty provides a bit of NYC in a Japanese city.

The 43-mile route crosses through six islands with gorgeous views of the Seto Inland Sea.

The world’s first hotel to be run by robots.

Serving you alcohol with a side of insanity. Also, costumes!

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

A magical place that lets you play in and explore the world of Studio Ghibli.

Disaster prevention apartment blocks in Sumida Ward are designed to save as many as possible in the face of the inevitable.