This quaint mountain pass with centuries-old cobblestones is known as Japan's steepest slope.

This traditional Japanese shrine is dedicated to four Shinto deities.

Buried nine feet under, these houses are preserved as a stark reminder of the disastrous 1991 Unzen eruption.

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

The “bridge of return” is haunted by a myriad of legends, from ghosts to demons to nuptial superstitions.

An old-fashioned school with interesting grounds and deep history, including the original Mito Castle gate.

An open-air museum exhibiting a total of 52 century-old buildings, recreating Hokkaido’s “pioneer village.”

A network of ancient tunnels and vaulted chambers with mystical Buddhist reliefs, built for ascetic training.

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

Ward off bad luck and fill your bottle with "the most watery water" at this little roadside shrine in Yonezawa.

The oldest academic institution in Japan provides a glimpse of university life during the days of the samurai.

Inaccessible by foot, Japan's most secluded train station sits in the middle of nowhere.

More than 300 years old, Kyoto's historic "teahouse" still operates as an invitation-only geisha club.

Home to the world's oldest wooden building.

Turn around and stick your head between your legs for the best view of this tree-covered sandbar.

The floats housed in this hall are more than 100 years old, and are brought out for an annual celebration.

Have a soak at this retro bathhouse, where you will find Japan's first electric bath, tiling from Spain, and wood carvings representing the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.

An eerie reminder to the horrors of World War II.

What's believed to be the country's first shrine is, in Shintō mythology, the annual meeting place of the gods.

Narrow passes cut out of mountains surround the medieval capital of Japan.

Japan's largest and oldest annual procession of floats, begun in 869.

This ancient shrine has been rebuilt every 20 years since the eighth century.

This brothel-turned-restaurant features plenty of surprises and elaborate, extravagant architecture.

This museum showcases the art of ancient sword-making.