Places claireromama Wants to Go

A sobering scientific reminder of the human damage caused by the advent of the nuclear age.

Rows of stone statues are dressed up to mourn children that are lost before birth.

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 tallest city hall in the world offers an excellent bento box.

Kawaii meets poisonous at this unique art gallery.

Giant sand sculptures of famous people and places are on display near the Tottori sand dunes.

This pair of small sea rocks has been "wed" using rope and ancient Shinto tradition.

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

A steaming, boiling hellscape sources Hokkaido's thermal baths.

A disconnected rotary phone for "calling" lost loved ones offered a unique way of dealing with grief in disaster-stricken Japan.

The 43-mile route crosses through six islands with gorgeous views of the Seto Inland Sea.

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

A King Kong-like gorilla hangs from the top of this commercial building in Tokyo.

A bibliophile's heaven that contains hundreds of bookstores, offering over a third of secondhand books for sale in Tokyo.

This retro underwater observation tower would make the perfect lair for a sea-loving villain.

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

Steaming blood-red hot spring from hell.

This subterranean spot might be the epitome of Japan's baroque, retro coffee houses.

With over 12,000 different species of plants, this botanical garden is Japan's oldest and most diverse.

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

A massive cave complex boasts some of the clearest water (and most charming bats) in the world.

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

Experience park where visitors are told to expect the unexpected.

If Hello Kitty were Mickey Mouse, this would be Disneyland.