A 20-meter (65-foot) robot towers over Tokyo Bay.

Largest graveyard in all of Japan surrounds a famous mausoleum.

This ordinary set of steps is a must-see destination for fans of a certain romantic anime.

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

Nine Gardens in one—with tea service.

A serene mountaintop temple complex featuring one big, bronze Buddha.

This Japanese national treasure was originally built in 593.

A plaque marks the site directly below the mid-air detonation of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima.

Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

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

Devoted Buddhists can earn enlightenment in the next life by crawling through this symbolic nostril.

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

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

The cutest shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to bunnies.

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

This Kyoto Starbucks takes coffee drinkers back in time.

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

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

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

Rows of stone statues are dressed up to mourn children that are lost before birth.

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

Colloquially known as “piss alley,” this narrow street filled with tiny bars and barbecue stands looks like it was pulled straight out of “Blade Runner.”

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

The legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko is dotted with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.