This is no ordinary coffee chain outlet—it's an architectural masterpiece.

The decommissioned steam engine’s whistle can still be heard three times a day at one of Japan’s oldest train stations.

In the oldest zen temple stands a descendant of the very tree that introduced tea to Japanese culture.

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

This monument celebrates this shopping district's past history as a feudal silver mint.

View Japan's most historic city from a cyberpunk walkway suspended 150 feet above the ground.

These sculptures were created by a 17th-century artist who had never seen an elephant.

Disused for decades, this freight railway bridge is finally being renovated into a scenic promenade.

This park boasts a unusual collection of curious monuments from around the world, from Micronesia to Antarctica.

This quirky collection of furniture also happens to be a public art installation.

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

This small Japanese street is lined with figures, sculptures and a shrine dedicated to frogs.

This abandoned, spaceship-like building is home to a museum so unpopular that it has been put on hiatus for over two decades.

A giant rooftop ride with unbeatable views of Matsuyama city, the nearby mountain ranges, and the Inland Sea.

The site of a famous samurai duel.

The remains of the vast manor that once belonged to Lord Kira, villain in the 47 Ronin story, is now a shrine dedicated to the incident.

Is this cat asleep or just pretending?

The seat of the lost Ryukyu Kingdom has survived numerous fires and wars over the centuries.

Curious onlookers have suspected this strange structure is a secret government base.

These turtle-shaped concrete stepping stones provide a unique river crossing in central Kyoto.

An LED art installation composed of 600 poles wrapped in kimono fabric.

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

Tragic reminders of the 1945 firebombing campaign over Tokyo still haunt this bridge.

Only recently added to the shrine, this googly-eyed snail demon of unknown origin is said to have eye-healing powers.