Places animebirder Wants to Go

An island in the middle of a lake, in the middle of a volcano, in the middle of a bigger lake, in the middle of a bigger island, in an archipelago, in the Pacific Ocean.

This eerie abandoned building with a dark history is said to be one of the most haunted places in the Philippines.

Some locals believe the fabled lost gold of General Yamashida is hiding somewhere beneath the city.

This eclectic Austin curiosity shop is home to all things strange and unusual.

A tribute to the "toughest woman on the Texas frontier," who survived a famous battle and five husbands.

A small island hides in plain sight on Austin's Lady Bird Lake.

The fictional star of "Breaking Bad" is memorialized with a real-life gravestone in his hometown.

A 59-ft. robot statue looks over the citizens of earthquake-ravaged Kobe.

Birthplace of the Tendai sect and home to the marathon monks.

This ancient shrine has been rebuilt every 20 years since the eighth century.

An ingenious solution to a tricky engineering problem, this spiraling bridge takes drivers for a dizzying spin.

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

A small island with no monkeys but plenty of military ruins.

Coast along one of Japan’s mountain railways for coveted views of magnificent hydrangeas.

The largest of the Fuji Five Lakes is home to an impressive swan population—some real, some with paddles, and one with an observation deck.

The world's shortest escalator doesn't seem to have any reason to exist other than to hold a world record.

This historical theme park celebrates all things noodle.

This ordinary set of steps is a must-see destination for fans of a certain romantic anime.

This adorable birdlike police box is designed based on a play on words.

An oddly touching memorial to a little-remembered nuclear tragedy.

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

A Catholicism-themed restaurant where sacrilege is on the menu.

Serving you alcohol with a side of insanity. Also, costumes!

A restaurant modeled after feudal Japan, where the waitstaff are trained as ninjas.