This historic castle is one of the oldest and most impressive in all of Japan.

A Buddhist temple on an artificial island that houses a monument to the fugu fish.

Although damaged beyond recognition, this stone god is still said to bring good luck to those who tap on him with a pebble.

Surreal giant face-pillars welcome visitors from across the globe to this hotel.

The statue's head is one of the few fragments of the original Urakami Cathedral to survive the atomic bomb.

Only the face remains of this giant Buddha statue, which is said to be a source of luck for students.

This amusement park brings a little slice of England to the heart of Kyushu.

Japan's hottest hot spring has a memorable name.

This battleship of a building was designed by a famed "mad architect."

Home to the world's oldest wooden building.

More than 300 years old, Kyoto's historic "teahouse" still operates as an invitation-only geisha club.

This enormous monument is one of the most iconic structures in Tokyo, rudely nicknamed "The Golden Turd."

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

Designed by a computer, this intricate network of fluorescent green pipes has taken over a subway station.

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way—to keep demons at bay.

A hub of information on tropical diseases and their treatments.

An eerie reminder to the horrors of World War II.

Mythical beasts symbolizing the city of Tokyo guard a historic bridge.

Take a few seconds to look at this abandoned, art-filled station as you pass by on the subway to Ueno.

The giant figure on the back of this turtle-shaped temple actually hides a memorial pendulum.

Devoted Buddhists can earn enlightenment in the next life by crawling through this symbolic nostril.

When this clock strikes a certain time, puppets showcase a story of life in Edo Japan.

The iconic castle that withstood a magnitude 6.2 earthquake has become a symbol of resilience.

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