Places Added by Fred Cherrygarden

This whimsical fountain depicts a winged siren shooting water out of her nipples into the fires of Mount Vesuvius.

Only the stone foundations remain of one of the greatest Buddhist temples in early East Asian history.

A rare north-facing Ksitigarbha statue enshrined in a passageway off Osaka’s busiest area.

A rock with images of infernal judges sculpted on it, offering a panoramic view of Kamakura.

Up on the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower sits an American mascot that became Osaka’s own lucky god.

Once a heap of dirt with a shrubbery on it, this unassuming mound in a parking lot turned out to be an ancient tumulus.

Underneath the Serapeum ruins lies a dark passage with nooks for books, the lesser-known “sister” to the famous ancient library.

Thousands of members of one family rest in peace at Okinawa's largest community gravesite.

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

A mountain demon once helped a local villager construct a canal, after which he sat on this oak tree to rest.

A mystical shrine dedicated to a forest that once covered the area and the legendary fox spirit who lived there.

Hike to a hidden medieval troglodyte necropolis.

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

A public park commemorating the iconic works of a satirist, with medieval ruins on the side.

Locals have put a new makeup on this strange statue every year since they unearthed it.

A pair of iconic characters from the local newspaper argue over pet snails.

This temple is home to a group of Buddha statues made from thousands of bones and ashes of the deceased.

Electricians pray for luck at this place where, according to legend, the god of thunder was once trapped.

This statue of what appears to be a feudal lord is actually a tribute to Japan's most beloved comedian.

The tomb of an infamous chimeric monster whose corpse once washed ashore in Osaka.

A small park inhabited by handmade water goblins.

Just outside Tokyo, a 45-story-high observatory with a stunning view of Tokyo Skytree and Mount Fuji.

Hidden in plain sight inside this church is a pulpit that was occasionally used by the author of ‘Alice in Wonderland.’

This hand-painted advertisement is a literal sign of encouragement, however unintentional.