Places 42mingus Wants to Go

Overlooked by many, this tiny sacred island in Ueno Park only opens to the public every 12 days.

A tiny kissaten coffeeshop with expertly crafted coffee in an antique setting.

One of the top 100 sights of feudal Tokyo continues to impress those who visit the lesser temples of Ueno.

An eclectic temple with Chinese architecture, Korean lion-dogs, an Indian god and a legendary 700-year-old tree.

A nondescript building is home to a one-room museum filled with an overwhelming array of art and objects.

A glimpse into life in 1830s Tokyo, back during the heyday of the Tokugawa shogunate.

The only natural gorge in metropolitan Tokyo, with lots of greenery and ancient burial chambers.

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

Kawaii meets poisonous at this unique art gallery.

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

A 20-meter (65-foot) robot towers over Tokyo Bay.

This neighborhood thoroughfare is haunted by dozens of homemade monsters.

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

Hot springs monkey spa in the middle of Hell's Valley.

Tokyo’s only Vaudeville-cuckoo clock–steampunk-Victorian curio cabinet time piece.

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

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

An oddly touching memorial to a little-remembered nuclear tragedy.

The remains of a prehistoric settlement with a museum showcasing fascinating archaeological finds next to modern artworks.

Next door to Tokyo DisneySea is a giant sculpture created by Taro Okamoto symbolizing the dynamism of life.

Reportedly 1,400 years old, this may be the first of the Fiji Mermaids.

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

Nine healing baths available only to those who stay in this quaint town, said to have inspired 'Spirited Away.'

Discover the mummified remains of Ancient Egypt in the middle of metropolitan Tokyo.