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

This little known mountain has claimed four times as many lives as Everest.

Japan's hottest hot spring has a memorable name.

Though technically an illegal structure, this eclectic DIY apartment complex is beloved by its residents.

Constructed thousands of years ago, these stone circles offer incredible insight into the lives of the people who built them.

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

Nope, not the one in France. The only officially-recognized reproduction of Monet’s garden in Giverny is located in a remote corner of Japan.

A whimsical museum dedicated to the mischievous kappa, a mythical cucumber-loving water sprite.

An ingenious solution to a tricky engineering problem, this spiraling bridge takes drivers for a dizzying spin.

This western-themed amusement park is host to a large number of decaying animatronic cowboys.

Take a few seconds to look at this abandoned, art-filled station as you pass by on the subway to Ueno.

These Japanese ruins have been brought back to life with elaborately recreated buildings.

This ancient burial site was once thought to be the home of a race distinctive to Ainu folklore.

An eerie reminder to the horrors of World War II.

High in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture, a magnificent library designed by a world-famous architect.

Mythical beasts symbolizing the city of Tokyo guard a historic bridge.

Watch out for the two-story Godzilla made out of tires.

"Singing sands" and the world's largest hourglass reside near Japan's Kotogahama beach.

A 14th-century European chapel sticks out of the facade of a Japanese hotel.

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.

This seven story Japanese love hotel now stands in ruins.

Legend says the goddess this shrine honors curses any couples that pass by.

When this clock strikes a certain time, puppets showcase a story of life in Edo Japan.