Giant animal sculptures are created with the rice straw leftover from the fall harvest each year.

A disconnected rotary phone for "calling" lost loved ones offered a unique way of dealing with grief in disaster-stricken Japan.

Be a ninja - or just act like one.

Closed for decades, this strange symbol of Japan's Expo '70 has finally opened its psychedelic insides to the public.

Cherry blossom season comes early in this Japanese town where pink flowers line the streets and riverbanks.

This little replica of Lady Liberty provides a bit of NYC in a Japanese city.

Historical Japanese-Dutch relations are honored with haunted rides and flower fields in this replica town.

This active volcano's siren song to suicide jumpers forced authorities to build a fence.

The bartenders at this crime-fighting theme cafe are actual private detectives by day.

With over 12,000 different species of plants, this botanical garden is Japan's oldest and most diverse.

This isolated Japanese mountain village untouched by time showcases unique and stunning traditional architecture.

One of the first hotel rooms in a pod.

Starship-temple contains 400 tons of drinking water and offers free Japanese lessons.

A Japanese corporation has turned this small island town into living modern art gallery.

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

Meet the world's longest tapeworm in a collection that really gets under your skin.

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

A restaurant modeled after feudal Japan, where the waitstaff are trained as ninjas.

An ordinary pond with fish from out of this world.

A massive cave complex boasts some of the clearest water (and most charming bats) in the world.

Nine Gardens in one—with tea service.

The quintessential Japanese rock garden has existed for more than 500 years.

Japanese island famous for poison gas and fluffy bunnies.

After a profound show of devotion for his master, a dog becomes the symbol of loyalty for an entire nation.