Only the face remains of this giant Buddha statue, which is said to be a source of luck for students.

Once the main gateway to Tokyo, sneaking through this checkpoint was a capital offense in feudal times.

These unique toilets feature transparent glass covered in PDLC film.

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

An eerie reminder to the horrors of World War II.

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way—to keep demons at bay.

Home to the world's oldest wooden building.

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

Dedicated to the armor and weapons used by the legendary Japanese warriors.

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

Established over a thousand years ago, this family-run teahouse continues to serve skewers of sweet rice cake to this day.

Devoted Buddhists can earn enlightenment in the next life by crawling through this symbolic nostril.

The traditional houses along the coast of this charming Japanese fishing village allow people to sleep above the sea.

A bibliophile's heaven that contains hundreds of bookstores, offering over a third of secondhand books for sale in Tokyo.

Burial mound for the ears and noses of thousands of mutilated Korean soldiers.

A giant robo-cockroach building devours Tokyo.

A train ride to the middle of nowhere gives its passengers some of the most iconic views of Japan's seasons.

Each year this Japanese temple overflows with scowling, bearded good luck talismans.

The divine septet of Japanese fortune gods are rendered in 1,000 year old wood at this peaceful site.

The Hanshin Expressway goes right through its 5th, 6th, and 7th floors.

A King Kong-like gorilla hangs from the top of this commercial building in Tokyo.

Legend holds eating just one of these black eggs can add seven years to one's life.

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

The quintessential Japanese rock garden has existed for more than 500 years.