Places deriverative Wants to Go

Visitors to this temple are greeted by a massive collection of wooden dolls said to bring good fortune.

Try maple leaf tempura at the trailside shop that brought it back from oblivion.

The headquarters of one of Japan’s leading astronomy research institutions features several historic observatory facilities and a 2,000-year-old burial mound.

Legend says the goddess this shrine honors curses any couples that pass by.

A colorful, architectural experiment designed to increase a resident's longevity.

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

A collection of nearly 5,000 yokai-themed toys, sculptures, and more, dating from the 1700s to the present day.

A statue erected on an infamous cliff where young boys would hold dangerous "pee offs" to prove their mettle.

Hidden by the roadside in the Iya Valley, this gem brings together folk monsters and the region's unique geography.

Hanging over one of Japan’s “hidden valleys,” these vine bridges must be remade every three years.

A rare surviving set of early 17th-century bronze finials remain on this bridge.

A 360-year-old cherry tree grows out of a granite boulder.

According to local folklore, a demon left his handprints on these boulders, which became the prefecture’s namesake.

Legend says that a swarm of centipedes and snakes once crawled out of the tomb of this cursed princess.

A network of sandy streets lined with verdant fukugi trees weaves throughout this tiny seaside town.

One of the world's largest tanks mimics the experience of watching rare whale sharks, giant rays, and deep sea creatures from the ocean floor.

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

Japan's largest and oldest annual procession of floats, begun in 869.

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

A beautiful bamboo trail tucked in this famous Japanese shrine.

Shrine dedicated to boars that is believed to cure foot and leg injuries.

This neighborhood thoroughfare is haunted by dozens of homemade monsters.

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

Burial mound for the ears and noses of thousands of mutilated Korean soldiers.