Tables of secondhand books fill the inner courtyard of this 17th-century stock exchange.

This mom-and-pop Japanese sweets shop has been serving cloud-light mochi for almost a century.

One of the few remaining casualties of the London Blitz, this destroyed church has become an enchanting public garden.

Armenian monks at an island monastery in the Venetian Lagoon make a rare rose petal jam.

An ancient instrument used to measure the waters of the Nile so Egyptian farmers would know whether to expect famine or flood.

This is not only one of the oldest collections in Europe, but also possibly the most beautiful.

At night, bats patrol this magnificent 18th-century space in search of book-eating pests.

Coast along one of Japan’s mountain railways for coveted views of magnificent hydrangeas.

A shrine contains nearly 200 statues of the Buddhist deity Jizo, dressed in bibs by parents who have lost a child.

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

A remarkable lava formation encloses a line of Buddhist statues that can't be accurately counted, according to local mythology.

This pond is so stunning it looks like you've stepped into one of Monet's masterpieces.

This pair of small sea rocks has been "wed" using rope and ancient Shinto tradition.

Legend holds eating just one of these black eggs can add seven years to one's life.

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

Once a black market electronics marketplace, now an otaku shopper's paradise.

Nine Gardens in one—with tea service.

This spa theme park lets its guests take a dip in pools of coffee, wine, or ramen broth.

Bioluminescent firefly squid light up this Japanese fishing port.

A small 12th-century temple surrounded by waters believed to have curative properties.

This Japanese treats shop may have been the first business to mass-produce fortune cookies in the United States.

This ancient sword lay in a waterlogged tomb for 2,500 years, but managed to remain relatively untarnished and impressively sharp.

A total of 999 stairs lead visitors through a massive hole in a mountain known as the Gateway to Heaven.

Trails through lava-carved tube-caves display sparkling bacteria and a rich history.