The largest seated Buddha statue in Japan is the centerpiece of an abandoned complex in a quiet, seaside town.

For centuries, this gold mine was the powerhouse behind the Tokugawa Shogunate.

This brothel-turned-restaurant features plenty of surprises and elaborate, extravagant architecture.

More than 300 years old, Kyoto's historic "teahouse" still operates as an invitation-only geisha club.

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

A wooden prison doesn't sound like a good idea, yet this abandoned 1950s detention center still stands today.

A Buddhist temple on an artificial island that houses a monument to the fugu fish.

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

Visitors to this park are welcomed by an ancient Japanese megalithic tomb that dates back to the sixth century.

One in a pair of subterranean caves created by an ancient eruption of Mount Fuji.

A bibliophile's heaven that contains hundreds of bookstores, offering over a third of secondhand books for sale in Tokyo.

Home to the world's oldest wooden building.

Kawaii meets poisonous at this unique art gallery.

A whimsical museum dedicated to the mischievous kappa, a mythical cucumber-loving water sprite.

Narrow passes cut out of mountains surround the medieval capital of Japan.

This ancient burial site was once thought to be the home of a race distinctive to Ainu folklore.

Museum showcases Japanese sexuality and some amazing ocean views.

These wondrously illuminated caverns extend under the mountains of the Fukushima Prefecture.

This incredible mountainside temple is home to intriguing statues of demon-like creatures.

A train ride to the middle of nowhere gives its passengers some of the most iconic views of Japan's seasons.

A charming, homemade vending machine dispenses burgers and sandwiches at this hole-in-the-wall bakery.

Approximately 300 million years ago, a massive coral reef existed in what is now the largest limestone cave in Japan.

What's believed to be the country's first shrine is, in Shintō mythology, the annual meeting place of the gods.

Ruins and statues dot the landscape of this tiny island rich with royal history.