This strange mural located in the Ueno station is filled with traditional Japanese symbolism.

One of the few surviving World War II-era air-raid shelters in Tokyo.

This shrine dedicated to a legendary swordsman has become a pilgrimage site for the ill and infirmed.

This museum showcases the art of ancient sword-making.

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

The groundbreaking Japanese shrine maiden who invented the art of kabuki.

It is believed that this Buddhist temple stands right on the gateway to the underworld.

This statue of Buddha has a distinctive hairstyle meant to represent an unfathomably long period of meditation.

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

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

This 14th-century temple is also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" for its gorgeous gilded reliquary hall.

One of Kyoto's oldest food establishments has supplied soba noodles to temple priests and the Imperial Palace.

Twelve hundred stone carvings guard this off-the-beaten-path Buddhist temple.

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

The sound of swaying stalks in this stunning grove has been named a governmentally recognized sound.

The world's shortest escalator doesn't seem to have any reason to exist other than to hold a world record.

A rare festival blending religion, blacksmiths, vagina dentata, sex workers, and the straight-up facts of life.

This 19th-century church is now a popular roller rink.

Featuring a casually threatening atmosphere along with dessert and coffee to die for.

The curious underground history of keeping Paris clean.

This unique library spans a mighty river.

The first location of the eventual video game giant.

Established over a thousand years ago, this family-run teahouse continues to serve skewers of sweet rice cake to this day.

This Kyoto Starbucks takes coffee drinkers back in time.