Places mrholland66801 Wants to Go

Archaeologists continue to debate whether this site yielded the oldest human remains in Japan.

These tiny pine-covered islands have inspired art and poetry for centuries.

One of the tallest statues in the world, and the tallest statue of a goddess in Japan.

Officially the lowest mountain in Japan.

On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.

This one-of-a-kind shrine is dedicated to a girl who was too beautiful for her own good.

A network of ancient tunnels and vaulted chambers with mystical Buddhist reliefs, built for ascetic training.

A mysterious, perhaps haunted plot of land, untouched by modern development.

Feast your eyes on the centuries-old statues of the judges of hell.

Over 80 years old, this hand-dug tunnel is a Chinese-style portal to another world.

This subway station is named after a local legend about supernatural dancing cats.

A replica of an ancient alien-like idol humorously represents spectacles in a corner of this shrine complex.

For but one summer in 1975, this rural suburb became a busy tourist spot when a local girl claimed to have seen ghostly faces on an old stele.

A small museum in a ward on the east side of Tokyo showcases the works of one of Japan's greatest ukiyo-e artists.

The lesser-known eastern counterpart to Kyoto’s famous fox shrine.

This is no ordinary coffee chain outlet—it's an architectural masterpiece.

The birthplace of the Japanese idiom "wet clothes" meaning “false accusation."

The former site of Fukuoka’s legendary ramen joint works hard to guide customers to the “original” original.

It is rumored that if you spot this little golden frog hiding in plain sight, good luck will come your way.

A serene mountaintop temple complex featuring one big, bronze Buddha.

In the oldest zen temple stands a descendant of the very tree that introduced tea to Japanese culture.

In the former treasury of a popular temple, a rare sculptural depiction of Kannon’s diverse avatars.

Ever needed a chocolate-filled crepe in the wee hours of the morning?

Japan Railways' southernmost train station offers a view of a volcano and a mailbox said to grant happiness.