Every summer West Seattle experiences a housing bloom.

The historic bar where local ship captains, traders, and gold miners would come together to do business a century ago.

Giant art made in Japanese rice fields.

An exquisite tunnel of cascading flowers.

This little town supplies Japan with most of its calligraphy brushes, still made by hand from animal fur.

The 43-mile route crosses through six islands with gorgeous views of the Seto Inland Sea.

On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.

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

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

Giant sand sculptures of famous people and places are on display near the Tottori sand dunes.

Nine Gardens in one—with tea service.

One of the first hotel rooms in a pod.

An unlikely hit, this museum is dedicated to the inventor of instant ramen and cup noodles.

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

The sound of swaying stalks in this stunning grove has been named a governmentally recognized sound.

A beautiful bamboo trail tucked in this famous Japanese Shrine.

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

A tiny collection of traditional Japanese woodblock prints, open only when the owner feels like it.

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

Be a ninja - or just act like one.

A Japanese cat island also populated by the descendants of a band of banished samurai.

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

Experience park where visitors are told to expect the unexpected.

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