Places Carter Post Wants to Go

A real-life replica of a home from Hayao Miyazaki's beloved movie "My Neighbor Totoro."

The only thing sweeter than the potatoes is the canine proprietor of this roadside stall.

Museum showcases Japanese sexuality and some amazing ocean views.

The bartenders at this crime-fighting theme cafe are actual private detectives by day.

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

Colloquially known as “piss alley,” this narrow street filled with tiny bars and barbecue stands looks like it was pulled straight out of “Blade Runner.”

This pond is so stunning it looks like you've stepped into one of Monet's masterpieces.

This mesmerizingly colorful pond looks like a scene straight out of a fairytale.

Nine Gardens in one—with tea service.

The legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko is dotted with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.

This Japanese national treasure was originally built in 593.

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

This spa theme park lets its guests take a dip in pools of coffee, wine, or ramen broth.

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

This massive wooden building contains a giant Buddha, healing pillars, and tame deer wandering the grounds.

Once the most densely populated place in the world, this island is now a ghost town.

Tokyo’s only Vaudeville-cuckoo clock–steampunk-Victorian curio cabinet time piece.

A taste of the macabre Tokyo's ritzy shopping district.

Hot springs monkey spa in the middle of Hell's Valley.

On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.

The sound of swaying stalks in this stunning grove has been named a governmentally recognized sound.

An exquisite tunnel of cascading flowers.

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

A mysterious spirit totem at the edge of Navajo lands.