The third-tallest statue in the world depicts the "Buddha of Infinite Light," complete with observation deck in his chest.

This mountain's identity is stuck somewhere between a nightmare and a scenic tourist attraction.

Elaborate series of tunnels where traces of mass suicide are still visible.

The ruin of a Japanese love hotel almost completely overgrown with brambles.

Burial mound for the ears and noses of thousands of mutilated Korean soldiers.

Founded over a thousand years ago, this shrine is said to be built on the site of a warlord's harem prison.

A giant robo-cockroach building devours Tokyo.

The Buddhist temples of Yamadera, built into a mountain side, feature a viewing deck with sweeping views.

This sprawling scenic burial ground is the final resting place of Japan's last shogun.

Each year this Japanese temple overflows with scowling, bearded good luck talismans.

The divine septet of Japanese fortune gods are rendered in 1,000 year old wood at this peaceful site.

Crawl through the hole in the middle of this stone to break off a bad relationship or initiate a good one.

The largest volcanic caldera in Japan holds an entire city in its maw.

These Japanese gardens are blankets of light for dark winter nights.

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

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

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

The tallest bronze seated statue of the Buddha in Japan.

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

This sawtooth mountain range still bears the strangely lovely marks of its history as a medieval quarry.

Unusual hexagonal rocks formed by cooling lava named for their resemblance to traditional Japanese tatami mats.

A steaming, boiling hellscape sources Hokkaido's thermal baths.

This ancient temple is set up to take you on a pilgrimage of self.

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