One in a pair of subterranean caves created by an ancient eruption of Mount Fuji.

This enormous monument is one of the most iconic structures in Tokyo, rudely nicknamed "The Golden Turd."

The largest archaeological site from the Yayoi period.

A temple made famous by Japanese Buddhist monks who sacrificed themselves at sea.

This frescoed ancient burial mound is a colorful window into China’s influence in early Japan.

The statue's head is one of the few fragments of the original Urakami Cathedral to survive the atomic bomb.

This 14th-century temple is also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" for its gorgeous gilded reliquary hall.

This incredible mountainside temple is home to intriguing statues of demon-like creatures.

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

This temple is steeped in local folklore involving a teakettle and a raccoon dog.

A small Japanese village claims to be the final resting place of the son of God (and God's other son's ear).

The giant figure on the back of this turtle-shaped temple actually hides a memorial pendulum.

This giant bronze Buddha, the third largest in Japan, is the last in an ill-fated series of statues.

The iconic castle that withstood a magnitude 6.2 earthquake has become a symbol of resilience.

One of the world's largest tanks mimics the experience of watching rare whale sharks, giant rays, and deep sea creatures from the ocean floor.

Founded over a thousand years ago, this shrine is said to be built on the site of a warlord's harem prison.

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

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

Be a ninja - or just act like one.

A shrine contains nearly 200 statues of the Buddhist deity Jizo, dressed in bibs by parents who have lost a child.

This retro underwater observation tower would make the perfect lair for a sea-loving villain.

Closed for decades, this strange symbol of Japan's Expo '70 has finally opened its psychedelic insides to the public.

A remarkable lava formation encloses a line of Buddhist statues that can't be accurately counted, according to local mythology.

The tallest bronze seated statue of the Buddha in Japan.