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

This ancient burial site was once thought to be the home of a race distinctive to Ainu folklore.

A monk-run winery inside a Buddhist temple celebrates Japan's crown grape varietal.

High in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture, a magnificent library designed by a world-famous architect.

Japan's hottest hot spring has a memorable name.

Stone slabs along the coast warn of Japan's tsunami-ravaged past, often marking the highest point of a wave's reach.

Birthplace of the Tendai sect and home to the marathon monks.

Ruins and statues dot the landscape of this tiny island rich with royal history.

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

This Kyoto Starbucks takes coffee drinkers back in time.

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.

An infamous house made famous by director Takashi Shimizu.

Children's literature inside, forest all around.

The ruins of Japan’s premier water brothel.

As the aging humans of this Japanese village die off one local artisan is replacing them with eerie homonculi.

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.

The tallest bronze seated statue of the Buddha in Japan.

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

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

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

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

Abandoned Japanese ghost town gives a glimpse into what our own metropolises may leave behind.

Starship-temple contains 400 tons of drinking water and offers free Japanese lessons.