It is said that each of the white stones in the red facade of this medieval house represents the head of a murdered Swedish noble.

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

A remarkable lava formation encloses a line of Buddhist statues that can't be accurately counted, according to local mythology.

This little replica of Lady Liberty provides a bit of NYC in a Japanese city.

A bronze statue dating back as far as 1252, still has remnants of gold on its right cheek from ancient gilding.

Once a black market electronics marketplace, now an otaku shopper's paradise.

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

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

A magical place that lets you play in and explore the world of Studio Ghibli.

These rugged, color-stained mountains hold the secrets of the Kazakh desert.

This Soviet statue is based on a piece of propaganda that's been elevated to national myth.

This Soviet-era athletic and recreation facility is the highest ice skating rink in the world.

Beatlemania is still going strong... at least in Kazakhstan.

In Kazakhstan, a colorful cathedral with many lives once survived the most powerful earthquake in the region.

This sprawling market is a one-stop shop for traditional Kazakh foods, from mare’s milk to sheep’s head.

Submerged trees jut ghost-like out of an idyllic turquoise mountain lake.

A massive collection of petroglyphs dating back some 40,000 years.

This mysterious but iconic tapered tower appears in many Azeri fairytales and legends.

A unique museum dedicated to culture and artistry of carpet weaving.

Home to nearly a third of the world's mud volcanoes, Azerbaijan is home to a messy, bubbling, and sometimes explosive landscape.

A shrine of fire worship built on top of a natural flame.

The site where the Emperor of Korea performed the long-forbidden "rite of heaven" to demonstrate his absolute sovereignty.

A symbol of hope, survival, and national character, especially after it rose phoenix like from the flames.

The supreme shrine of the state.