A moss-covered statue of a Japanese Buddhist deity stands at a quiet temple in downtown Osaka.

Okinawan dining in a twenty foot tall, man-made tree house overlooking Naha Harbor.

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 world's longest tunnel with an undersea section.

This mythical weapon stuck on the mountaintop is also the site of the first honeymoon in Japan's history.

A culturally significant rural temple in the beautiful mountains of Itoshima.

These medieval stone-cut Buddhist statues may protect visitors from being fired.

This phallic temple was erected in the forest to honor the tragic death of a samurai lord's son.

Approximately 300 million years ago, a massive coral reef existed in what is now the largest limestone cave in Japan.

Come for the fish sundae, stay for the collection of Studio Ghibli cat buses.

The 43-mile route crosses through six islands with gorgeous views of the Seto Inland Sea.

Hidden by the roadside in the Iya Valley, this gem brings together folk monsters and the region's unique geography.

The hometown of a beloved manga artist created a treasure hunt for his popular ghostly characters.

Nestled amid the trees lies an abandoned funicular railway that dates back to the 1920s.

An abandoned giant glass dome sits in the bay in “the Venice of the East.”

Home to the world's oldest wooden building.

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

A wooden prison doesn't sound like a good idea, yet this abandoned 1950s detention center still stands today.

A failed Russian themed village and amusement park in Niigata prefecture.

Although it has never been a secret ninja base, this shrine still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

This giant fashion model is one of the most beloved symbols of Nagoya.

The largest privately owned statue of Buddha in Japan, built by a total amateur, with an unconventional look.

The only Buddhist temple in Japan dedicated to breasts.

A kitsch shrine dedicated to the ogre-slaying folktale hero born from a peach.