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

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

One of the world's largest tanks mimics the experience of watching rare whale sharks, giant rays, and deep sea creatures from the ocean floor.

The cutest shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to bunnies.

A bibliophile's heaven that contains hundreds of bookstores, offering over a third of secondhand books for sale in Tokyo.

A rare festival blending religion, blacksmiths, vagina dentata, sex workers, and the straight-up facts of life.

A train ride to the middle of nowhere gives its passengers some of the most iconic views of Japan's seasons.

Shells collected from over a hundred different countries line the walls, floors and ceilings of this fantasy museum.

A bronze statue dating back as far as 1252, still has remnants of gold on its right cheek from ancient gilding.

This Kyoto Starbucks takes coffee drinkers back in time.

One of Japan's most famous sights, the bridge was originally built in 1673.

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

This pond is so stunning it looks like you've stepped into one of Monet's masterpieces.

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

Transport yourself to the 1980s era of video games at this themed restaurant and bar.

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

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

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

Hanging over one of Japan's "hidden valleys," these vine bridges must be remade every three years.

A 70-foot-deep ice cave formed by lava from Mt. Fuji on the edge of Japan's "Suicide Forest." 

This historical theme park celebrates all things noodle.

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

Every color in the rainbow awaits.

This neighborhood thoroughfare is haunted by dozens of homemade monsters.