This little town supplies Japan with most of its calligraphy brushes, still made by hand from animal fur.

The largest of the Fuji Five Lakes is home to an impressive swan population—some real, some with paddles, and one with an observation deck.

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

The largest volcanic caldera in Japan holds an entire city in its maw.

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

This Balinese sea temple is thought to be guarded by the hundreds of monkeys that live around it.

Bali's remote "gateway to heaven" is one of the most sacred places on the island.

A little slice of Japan and its aesthetics in London's Holland Park.

If Hello Kitty were Mickey Mouse, this would be Disneyland.

Cabaret where the show girls are all androids, and the patrons couldn't be more pleased.

This sprawling scenic burial ground is the final resting place of Japan's last shogun.

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.”

Not quite the menace it once was, this monster still has some chops.

An underground city of salt.

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

A cluttered and astounding collection of antiquities and curiosities.

In this cobwebbed old operating theater, you can practically hear the screams of the unanesthetized patients.

Mary Kelly was last seen here before she was murdered by Jack the Ripper.

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

The sign at the garden gate reads: "These Plants Can Kill."

This enchanting Victorian estate was home to the world's first hydroelectric power generator.

This iconic 1,000-year-old medieval castle is a favorite of the film industry, most notably as the location for Hogwarts in Harry Potter.

This enormous secondhand bookstore inside a Victorian train station sparked the "Keep Calm and Carry On" craze.

This museum honors the young maritime hero who became an unexpected Victorian-era celebrity.