A sprawling nature preserve harbors the world's only living dragons.

Three wildly colorful calderas top this otherworldly volcano chain.

A tall karst islet popularized by 007.

This floating cinema brings new meaning to the phrase "going out" to the movies.

Thailand's distressed elephants find peace at this Chiang Mai sanctuary.

A forest of phallic offerings found in a quiet corner of a hotel car park.

Memorial to the father of the Republic of China.

Once a prosperous mining village, this tiny Taiwanese town is now overrun with cute cats.

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way—to keep demons at bay.

More than 300 years old, Kyoto's historic "teahouse" still operates as an invitation-only geisha club.

This monument celebrates this shopping district's past history as a feudal silver mint.

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

Although it has never been a secret ninja base, this shrine still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

This enormous monument is one of the most iconic structures in Tokyo, rudely nicknamed "The Golden Turd."

Once the main gateway to Tokyo, sneaking through this checkpoint was a capital offense in feudal times.

Tragic reminders of the 1945 firebombing campaign over Tokyo still haunt this bridge.

Sidle into a side alley for a taste of sumo wrestlers' traditional hot-pot soup, in a tiny restaurant founded by a former competitor.

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

One of Kyoto's oldest food establishments has supplied soba noodles to temple priests and the Imperial Palace.

A 14th-century European chapel sticks out of the facade of a Japanese hotel.

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

Ever needed a chocolate-filled crepe in the wee hours of the morning?

Japan's largest collection of Western-style mansions in the port city of Kobe includes a recreation of Sherlock Holmes' 221B Baker Street quarters.

The small candy-colored ride is the last rooftop Ferris wheel in Tokyo.