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

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

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

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

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

This neighborhood thoroughfare is haunted by dozens of homemade monsters.

Bioluminescent firefly squid light up this Japanese fishing port.

The legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko is dotted with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.

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.”

Once the most densely populated place in the world, this island is now a ghost town.

The magical, mossy forest that inspired Princess Mononoke.

A beautiful, dense forest in the shadow of Mount Fuji, with a tragic reputation.

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

Hot springs monkey spa in the middle of Hell's Valley.

On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.

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

A magical place that lets you play in and explore the world of Studio Ghibli.

A condom-covered Thai restaurant that is more concerned with birth control than food.

The headquarters of the Mahanikai school of Buddhism, Thailand's largest monastic order.

A treasure trove of pathological, forensic, parasitological, and anatomical specimens.

Vintage furniture and art share space with all manner of collectibles at this quirky shop in Bangkok.

Bangkok's men with dangerous jobs come here in search of protective talismans.

At a Bangkok bistro, one pot of beef stew has been cooking non-stop for more than 45 years.

A collection of venomous snakes and reptiles for the whole family to enjoy.