Places ArchaeArtist Wants to Go

A steaming, boiling hellscape sources Hokkaido's thermal baths.

Unusual hexagonal rocks formed by cooling lava named for their resemblance to traditional Japanese tatami mats.

Children's literature inside, forest all around.

Sulphuric gases inhabit a beautiful Japanese island.

Shells collected from over a hundred different countries line the walls, floors and ceilings of this fantasy museum.

The largest volcanic caldera in Japan holds an entire city in its maw.

White beach sands made of the remains of tiny, star shaped creatures.

We heard you like volcanoes so we put a volcano in your volcano so you can die for sure...

Be a ninja - or just act like one.

This sawtooth mountain range still bears the strangely lovely marks of its history as a medieval quarry.

A Japanese corporation has turned this small island town into living modern art gallery.

This pair of small sea rocks has been "wed" using rope and ancient Shinto tradition.

Starship-temple contains 400 tons of drinking water and offers free Japanese lessons.

Reportedly 1,400 years old, this may be the first of the Fiji Mermaids.

A massive cave complex boasts some of the clearest water (and most charming bats) in the world.

Steaming blood-red hot spring from hell.

After a profound show of devotion for his master, a dog becomes the symbol of loyalty for an entire nation.

An ordinary pond with fish from out of this world.

This Buddhist temple is home to the graves of the Japanese national legends, the 47 Ronin.

Shrine to Japanese water-goblins, complete with their preserved body parts.

A 70-foot-deep ice cave formed by lava from Mt. Fuji on the edge of Japan's "Suicide Forest." 

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

1,001 carved statues of the Buddhist God of Mercy, each with a unique face.

Nine Gardens in one—with tea service.