Places brnskll Wants to Go

Each year this Japanese temple overflows with scowling, bearded good luck talismans.

The oldest surviving stele in Japan is a personal dedication from a monk to his late mother.

The world's longest bridge fountain has hundreds of nozzles that create a beautiful, illuminated spectacle.

A long-forgotten homage to an eldritch, sassy spider yōkai that was once worshipped here as a god.

The vast, legendary catacombs hold secrets much stranger than stacked bones.

A nondescript building is home to a one-room museum filled with an overwhelming array of art and objects.

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

The tomb of an infamous chimeric monster whose corpse once washed ashore in Osaka.

This amusement park brings a little slice of England to the heart of Kyushu.

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

Turn around and stick your head between your legs for the best view of this tree-covered sandbar.

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.

This statue of the "shiny uncle of Beppu" was erected in 2007.

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

Graffiti-covered ruins of a luxurious resort sit among enchanting beaches.

The real clothing store that inspired a fictional spy organization's front.

The library houses an incredible collection of some of the world's most impressive books and manuscripts.

The curios of pharmacist and collector Henry Wellcome.

This collection of illusory paraphernalia has been culled from the history of London's premier magician's club.

The oldest inn in England served brew to the crusaders.

A labyrinthine underworld of tunnels and caverns hides beneath the city.

These 90-year-old murals of local kings, Vikings, and outlaws hide in plain sight in a beautifully baroque shopping arcade.

After the famous composer died in Paris, his sister snuck his heart out of the country to honor his wish that it be buried in their native country.

The Polish capital has had a deep connection to its guardian mermaid for almost a millennium now.