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

Largest graveyard in all of Japan surrounds a famous mausoleum.

Coast along one of Japan’s mountain railways for coveted views of magnificent hydrangeas.

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

A disconnected rotary phone for "calling" lost loved ones offered a unique way of dealing with grief in disaster-stricken Japan.

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

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

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

Colloquially known as “piss alley,” this narrow street filled with tiny bars and barbecue stands looks like it was pulled straight out of “Blade Runner.”

The tallest bronze seated statue of the Buddha in Japan.

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

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

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

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

The world’s first hotel to be run by robots.

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.

This isolated Japanese mountain village untouched by time showcases unique and stunning traditional architecture.

One of the first hotel rooms in a pod.

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

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

Legend holds eating just one of these black eggs can add seven years to one's life.

Drinkslinger is an unlikely vocation for a Buddhist monk, but at this Tokyo bar the enlightenment is served in a martini glass.

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