Students pray here in hopes of entering one of Japan’s most prestigious universities.

The origin of this bizarre, ghostly idol is a local mystery, even to the temple it calls home.

One of the best-preserved remains of "Tokyo's lost rivers."

The decommissioned steam engine’s whistle can still be heard three times a day at one of Japan’s oldest train stations.

An eclectic temple with Chinese architecture, Korean lion-dogs, an Indian god and a legendary 700-year-old tree.

A colorful, architectural experiment designed to increase a resident's longevity.

This public bathroom takes the form of a 19th-century lighthouse that once stood on the spot.

This quirky collection of furniture also happens to be a public art installation.

A site where ten to twenty thousand Edo-era prisoners were put to death.

A lonely chimpanzee lures you into a narrow alley leading to this hidden shrine.

Rice balls symbolize fate and relationship at this adorable shrine, which was once dedicated to the Buddhist Devil.

This iconic sluice gate is a favorite haunt for joggers, fishing enthusiasts, and even ghost hunters.

The site of Japan’s first archaeological excavation is also the birthplace of fingerprint forensics.

Inspired by the famous sculptures on Easter Island, this head serves as a popular meeting spot by Shibuya Station.

Sample specialties from Xinjiang at this Shinjuku neighborhood gem.

This museum celebrates the history of Japanese advertising, from feudal business tricks to modern T.V. commercials.

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

After being lost for decades, this striking mural depicting the atomic bomb covers the wall of a busy Tokyo metro station.

An abandoned Art Deco hotel nestled on the side of a wooded mountain.

Crawl through the hole in the middle of this stone to break off a bad relationship or initiate a good one.

It's bad manners to eat and drink on the subways of Tokyo, unless the train is this bar. 

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