One of the tallest statues in the world, and the tallest statue of a goddess in Japan.

This tiny museum hidden above a restaurant houses thousands of modern and traditional kites.

One of the bloodiest and most important battles in Japanese history is recreated with kitschy concrete statues.

A railway station takeout shop sells boxed meals in containers shaped like trains and snowmen that hold the country’s abundant regional delicacies.

This traditional Japanese-style house doubles as one of James Turrell's colorful works of art.

Though technically an illegal structure, this eclectic DIY apartment complex is beloved by its residents.

"Bug Bug" Land, a natural park for beetle watching, still hasn't fully recovered from Fukushima's nuclear disaster.

The floats housed in this hall are more than 100 years old, and are brought out for an annual celebration.

This exacting restaurant will charge a fine for every grain of rice you've left behind.

One of the world's largest tanks mimics the experience of watching rare whale sharks, giant rays, and deep sea creatures from the ocean floor.

A remote and slightly overgrown park filled with replicas of world landmarks.

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

One of the largest producers of MSG in the world welcomes visitors to its Kawasaki factory with an albino panda named Aji-Kun.

More tin toys than you can shake a clapping monkey at.

The giant figure on the back of this turtle-shaped temple actually hides a memorial pendulum.

Roots and stumps that lay inundated for two millennia are on display in Japan's city of three mysteries.

The traditional houses along the coast of this charming Japanese fishing village allow people to sleep above the sea.

A network of sandy streets lined with verdant fukugi trees weaves throughout this tiny seaside town.

This high-design church is made up of two dizzying spirals meant to evoke the weaving together of marriage.

An anthropological theme park that depicts the cultures of around 20 different countries.

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

A statue erected on an infamous cliff where young boys would hold dangerous "pee offs" to prove their mettle.

This bridge is so steep it looks like a rollercoaster.

This retro underwater observation tower would make the perfect lair for a sea-loving villain.