The site of one of the only two star-shaped forts in Japan was used as an elementary school for over a century, much longer than its life as a castle.

Dedicated to humankind's achievements in aviation, this Shintō shrine is notable for its Greek-style architecture and collection of aircrafts.

This unusual "magical shrine" honors a legendary raccoon-dog god that stowed away to Japan from some far-off land.

A mountaintop shrine-temple guarded by a horde of half-demon priests.

A hidden alley with seven corners and handmade cat decorations.

Pilots from around the world come to this park to fly gliders.

This iconic “station bento” comes in an earthenware pot you can take home and repurpose.

The former site of Fukuoka’s legendary ramen joint works hard to guide customers to the “original” original.

Unchanged for decades, World War II-era bullet holes and nostalgic ghost signs still haunt this desolate train station.

More than 100 antique vending machines housed in a used tire shop sell everything from candy to sake and ramen.

This one-of-a-kind indie publisher-bookshop specializes in archiving historic red-light districts and niche cultural topics of the Shōwa era.

A natural resemblance of the monster of film lore.

It is rumored that if you spot this little golden frog hiding in plain sight, good luck will come your way.

Open since 1690, this former teahouse makes “strength mochi” based on the centuries-old recipe.

The largest seated Buddha statue in Japan is the centerpiece of an abandoned complex in a quiet, seaside town.

In the oldest zen temple stands a descendant of the very tree that introduced tea to Japanese culture.

A serene mountaintop temple complex featuring one big, bronze Buddha.

Home to a legend of the supernatural raccoon dog, a rare wooden structure of Edo, and witnesses of the Tokyo bombings.

A gorgeous, nostalgic café housed in a lofty old warehouse, lit only by petroleum lamps.

Visitors to this temple are greeted by a massive collection of wooden dolls said to bring good fortune.

This extremely naked God of Drunkards welcomes visitors to Kochi Station.

Home to herbal cosmetics, teas, and a unique set of dolls known as kitchen witches.

This 24-hour vending machine serves up homemade treats inspired by the local Japanese snow monkeys.

Legend has it that centuries ago, a ghost once frequented this candy shop to feed her still-living baby.