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

Tokyo’s only Vaudeville-cuckoo clock–steampunk-Victorian curio cabinet time piece.

Burial mound for the ears and noses of thousands of mutilated Korean soldiers.

Surreal giant face-pillars welcome visitors from across the globe to this hotel.

Japan's largest area of "pink moss" turns the hillside bright pink every spring.

A bronze statue dating back as far as 1252, still has remnants of gold on its right cheek from ancient gilding.

This mesmerizingly colorful pond looks like a scene straight out of a fairytale.

Every color in the rainbow awaits.

This massive wooden building contains a giant Buddha, healing pillars, and tame deer wandering the grounds.

This subterranean spot might be the epitome of Japan's baroque, retro coffee houses.

A monk-run winery inside a Buddhist temple celebrates Japan's crown grape varietal.

Existing for more than four centuries, the last of Hakone’s historic teahouses serves a sweet, mold-based rice drink.

Oddly touching memorial to a little-remembered nuclear tragedy.

Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

Bioluminescent firefly squid light up this Japanese fishing port.

This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.

1,001 carved statues of the Buddhist God of Mercy, each with a unique face.

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

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

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

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

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

A moss-covered statue of a Japanese Buddhist deity stands at a quiet temple in downtown Osaka.

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