Rubbing salt on this small stone dog is said to make wishes come true.

Daikon radishes are offered to the Japanese Buddhist counterpart of the Hindu god Ganesha at this historic hilltop temple.

Rice balls symbolize fate and relationship at this adorable shrine, which was once dedicated to the Buddhist Devil.

A shrine dedicated to a 10th-century samurai emperor, whose head is not buried on site (contrary to popular belief).

Guarding the city of Chiyoda is a bizarre insectile creature with a name no one can pronounce.

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

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

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

Losing lottery tickets are deposited at this shrine in hopes of better luck.

Inside the columbarium, thousands of colorful, high-tech Buddhas guard the ashes of the dead.

Tell this pair of "love-inviting" cats in Ginza your romantic hopes.

Unbeknownst to many, an ancient burial mound hides in plain sight in Ueno Park.

Legend says this sacred tree was a gift from goddess Athena.

A vast Communist-era exhibition space in the Bulgarian capital.

A collection of art from Bulgaria's time as a communist state.

The world's only museum devoted to the wonders of fluorescence.

Famed for its pie, this eatery has a hidden tunnel that allowed Catholics to secretly walk to church during the Reformation.

This impressive collection of rare books on ancient mysticism inspired author Dan Brown.

People have been placing babies on these lilies for photoshoots since the Victorian era.

A 'living museum' in Leiden, the oldest of its kind in the Netherlands.

This century-old street sign is a forgotten remnant of the old city.

The works of poetry's biggest names grace the walls of the city of Leiden, all carefully painted by hand.

This 11th-century castle sits so low you can't see it behind the surrounding buildings.

This historic castle is one of the oldest and most impressive in all of Japan.