Places brandonlake Wants to Go

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

Open since 1690, this former teahouse makes “strength mochi” based on the centuries-old recipe.

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

This 400-year-old noodle joint was once frequented by a fox-turned-monk, according to local folklore.

This infamous execution site inspired the beginning of Japan's modernization in the late 18th-century.

A glimpse into life in 1830s Tokyo, back during the heyday of the Tokugawa shogunate.

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

Walls of VHS tapes adorn this Golden Gai B horror movie themed bar.

Take a few seconds to look at this abandoned, art-filled station as you pass by on the subway to Ueno.

Mythical beasts symbolizing the city of Tokyo guard a historic bridge.

This museum showcases the art of ancient sword-making.

Weighing nearly seven tons, this massive sculpture was carved out of 500-year-old wood and decorated with thousands of jewels.

An unexpected curiosity cabinet hidden within a department store in the Japan Post tower.

An ordinary pond with fish from out of this world.

Dedicated to the armor and weapons used by the legendary Japanese warriors.

This sprawling scenic burial ground is the final resting place of Japan's last shogun.

Stuck in a bygone era, the oldest subterranean shopping street in Japan hides beneath the popular Asakusa district of Tokyo.

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

Tokyo’s only Ainu restaurant serves Indigenous food from northern Japan.

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

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

The most iconic structure in Scotland has been home to bishops, colonels, and Sean Connery characters.

Ruined 11th century abbey built by King David I in Edinburgh, Scotland.

This 1,300 year old monastery built atop a single rock was once only accessible depending on the whims of the tide.