Places shanliljones Wants to Go

The famed natural wonder that gave its name to a fishcake as well as one of the most popular anime series of all time.

An eccentric castle with snake protectors and spectacular views of Beppu.

This ornate example of 19th-century Chinese architecture is one of only a handful of Confucius shrines in Japan.

Descendants of the samurai who guarded Matsusaka Castle during the Edo period still live in these charming historic houses (and visitors can enter one of them for free).

A peaceful place to spot the rare and iconic red-crowned crane.

Considered the oldest intact wooden structure in Tokyo Prefecture, this impressive temple was built in 1407.

This Spanish theme park stands out in the Japanese countryside.

Buddha figures are carved into volcanic rocks on the seashore of Yamagara Prefecture.

Buried nine feet under, these houses are preserved as a stark reminder of the disastrous 1991 Unzen eruption.

An Akita-themed facility modeled after the old Shibuya Station, erected in honor of Hachiko, a famously loyal dog.

Row through this enchanted narrow chasm whose stones are said to resemble dragon scales.

This quaint mountain pass with centuries-old cobblestones is known as Japan's steepest slope.

This ancient, tranquil shrine is the birthplace of ema prayer boards and the Ushi-no-toki-mairi curse ritual.

A dramatic landscape of ancient lava, carved into hexagonal columns by nature itself.

Take a lick of the legendary homemade miso paste that protected this Buddhist temple’s scrolls from a fire centuries ago.

Once a huge limestone cave that collapsed thousands of years ago, this scenic ravine is also an important archaeological site.

Nine healing baths available only to those who stay in this quaint town, said to have inspired 'Spirited Away.'

A mountaintop Buddhist temple with panoramic views of Hiroshima.

The northernmost of the 12 surviving feudal castles of Japan is known as a cherry blossom viewing spot.

The largest seated Buddha statue in Japan is the centerpiece of an abandoned complex in a quiet, seaside town.

A tiny kissaten coffeeshop with expertly crafted coffee in an antique setting.

Every summer, this shrine sets up a tiny drinking fountain reserved for thirsty apians.

The site of Japan's first major environmental disaster.

This iconic “station bento” comes in an earthenware pot you can take home and repurpose.