A bibliophile's heaven that contains hundreds of bookstores, offering over a third of secondhand books for sale in Tokyo.

This lesser-visited gallery in a corner of the Tokyo National Museum complex is an architectural beauty dedicated to the ancient treasures of Hōryū-ji.

This site commemorates the life of a Japanese scientist who dedicated his life to the discovery of diseases.

Although damaged beyond recognition, this stone god is still said to bring good luck to those who tap on him with a pebble.

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

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

Luminaries from Albert Einstein to John Lennon once had a cup of coffee at Tokyo's oldest café.

Japan’s tallest Godzilla statue contains a piece of the original 1954 film within its base.

A precursor to Taro Okamoto’s iconic Tower of the Sun.

The groundbreaking Japanese shrine maiden who invented the art of kabuki.

When this massive wooden temple ran out of rope, they made one out of devotees' hair.

This massive wooden building contains a giant Buddha, healing pillars, and tame deer wandering the grounds.

Devoted Buddhists can earn enlightenment in the next life by crawling through this symbolic nostril.

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

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

This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.

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

An ancient Greek physician is honored as a god at this hole-in-the-wall shrine.

One of Kyoto's oldest food establishments has supplied soba noodles to temple priests and the Imperial Palace.

This Japanese national treasure was originally built in 593.

In 806, Kobo Daishi began meditating on Mount Misen. The Buddhist monk lit this holy fire, which has been kept burning for 1,200 years.

An eerie reminder to the horrors of World War II.

Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

A plaque marks the site directly below the mid-air detonation of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima.