The bamboo that helped Thomas Edison develop a longlasting lightbulb.

This statue of a deified “hag” is said to protect children from the common cold and coughing fits.

This glass-themed tourist park in northern Japan feels like taking a step back in time.

A bizarre object of worship believed to grant wishes to those who tie it up with a rope.

This unique museum explores the world of Japanese demons and spirits.

A museum of space exploration in the UFO capital of Japan.

A nondescript building is home to a one-room museum filled with an overwhelming array of art and objects.

A lone torii arch stands on a coastal rock where a deity is said to have landed.

Walls of VHS tapes adorn this Golden Gai B horror movie themed bar.

Over 40 species of fern cover the canyon walls of this lush green bowl, cut off from the bustle of the world by a cave entrance.

There's light and a dreamlike panorama at the end of this tunnel.

A wooden prison doesn't sound like a good idea, yet this abandoned 1950s detention center still stands today.

This bathhouse includes an option to soak in radioactive water.

"Excuse me sir, your submarine is blocking my building."

View Japan's most historic city from a cyberpunk walkway suspended 150 feet above the ground.

Passengers are not allowed to set foot outside this station, but you can still enjoy spectacular views of the sea from the platform.

Home to a legend of the supernatural raccoon dog, a rare wooden structure of Edo, and witnesses of the Tokyo bombings.

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

This massive, beautifully-lit underground quarry leaves visitors in awe.

"The Dance of Fools" is Japan's largest dance festival.

This kitsch-forward diner is dedicated to an almost-forgotten “one-cent” prototype of okonomiyaki.

"Bug Bug" Land, a natural park for beetle watching, still hasn't fully recovered from Fukushima's nuclear disaster.

This historic hydroelectric power plant in Japan has been preserved and is open to the public.

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