Places Added by Fred Cherrygarden

Often mistaken as a medieval Gothic monument, this unique cornerstone only dates back to the 1980s.

Despite the name, this ancient piece of crystal may not have been a lens at all.

Buried nine feet under, these houses are preserved as a stark reminder of the disastrous 1991 Unzen eruption.

An unusual structure of stone and glass honoring one of Japan’s most eminent Christian leaders who founded the non-church movement.

This iconic “station bento” comes in an earthenware pot you can take home and repurpose.

One of Ayutthaya’s most iconic locations is a mysterious, hauntingly surreal miracle.

Various accidents and illnesses fell upon the developers who tried to remove these historic trees.

This Art Nouveau mansion was used as the "House of the Screaming Child" in Dario Argento’s giallo classic.

Unbeknownst to many, an ancient burial mound hides in plain sight in Ueno Park.

Considered an enigma by folklorists, an object of primitive animistic worship lives on in Yamanashi.

A network of ancient tunnels and vaulted chambers with mystical Buddhist reliefs, built for ascetic training.

Unchanged for decades, World War II-era bullet holes and nostalgic ghost signs still haunt this desolate train station.

A surreal monument depicting a five-armed giant supporting a toppling cylinder seal.

This unusual "magical shrine" honors a legendary raccoon-dog god that stowed away to Japan from some far-off land.

Rumored to be a giant robot in disguise, this colossal chef has been the beloved symbol of Tokyo’s kitchenware district for decades.

Fifty-odd dinosaur footprints are preserved on this strip of mountain cliff along with ancient ripple marks.

The oldest surviving stele in Japan is a personal dedication from a monk to his late mother.

Here once stood an opulent state guest house that symbolized the Westernization of Japan.

This statue of the famed saint is missing his right hand, a rare depiction of his posthumous amputation.

A narrow, dead-end alley hides with a small fox shrine and the untold history of Yokohama's historic red-light district.

The ruins of what is considered the world's oldest university.

A vibrant, 100-foot-tall mural dedicated to Evelyn Nesbit, the tragic icon of the Gilded Age.

A weekly bazaar sells thousands of books, from vintage collectibles to paperbacks sold by weight.

The beautifully designed resting place of Iran's national poet is a masterpiece of modern Persian architecture.