Places dannivandermost Wants to Go

This incredible mountainside temple is home to intriguing statues of demon-like creatures.

An eerie reminder to the horrors of World War II.

The Buddhist temples of Yamadera, built into a mountain side, feature a viewing deck with sweeping views.

Founded over a thousand years ago, this shrine is said to be built on the site of a warlord's harem prison.

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

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

This 14th-century temple is also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" for its gorgeous gilded reliquary hall.

Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

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

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

A plaque marks the site directly below the mid-air detonation of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima.

Established over a thousand years ago, this family-run teahouse continues to serve skewers of sweet rice cake to this day.

The self-mummified monks of Japan.

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

A train ride to the middle of nowhere gives its passengers some of the most iconic views of Japan's seasons.

This Japanese national treasure was originally built in 593.

A beautiful bamboo trail tucked in this famous Japanese shrine.

The quintessential Japanese rock garden has existed for more than 500 years.

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

Twelve hundred stone carvings guard this off-the-beaten-path Buddhist temple.

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

This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.

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

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