This retro café is a remnant of Japan’s post-war Argentine tango craze.

This historic Erasmus statue was first mistaken for a legendary Chinese inventor, then as a child-eating hag.

A bizarre statue of a Buddhist goddess made from 20,000 insects.

Thanks to wordplay, the earthquake-causing catfish monster has become a god of confidence at this shrine.

Rice balls symbolize fate and relationship at this adorable shrine, which was once dedicated to the Buddhist Devil.

If you forgot something to read during your trip to Tokyo, this hostel has you covered.

One of three official copies of Marcel Duchamp's enigmatic masterpiece is on display in an obscure Tokyo museum.

This unassuming office building is home to what was once the world's largest pendulum clock.

Taking the subway here means doing so over a bridge located in the middle of an estuary.

Historic fortifications form the boundary of Vatican City, but it’s not entirely surrounded by walls.

A giant gorilla guardian of the neighborhood, warning people to drive safely.

The Port of Yokohama’s customs headquarters building resembles a Moorish kasbah, complete with a minaret.

Every summer, this shrine sets up a tiny drinking fountain reserved for thirsty apians.

One of the only two archaeological sites in Japan to feature petroglyphs, which some believe to be a long-lost writing system of the gods.

A gorgeous, nostalgic café housed in a lofty old warehouse, lit only by petroleum lamps.

This dazzling three-story shop showcases the art and history of music boxes, a popular novelty in Japan.

A nouveau-riche hilltop “palace” that once provided lodging to more than a hundred fishermen.

This abandoned railroad got a new life as a scenic promenade cutting through the city of Otaru.

An open-air museum exhibiting a total of 52 century-old buildings, recreating Hokkaido’s “pioneer village.”

The original location of the eponymous site of Japan’s Yayoi period is now lost in time.

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

A bronze ship jutting out of a bridge, a commemoration of Osamu Dazai, a sculpture created by 30 manga legends, and more.

An American mascot that became a lucky god in Japan, enshrined in a city far from the main center of his worship.

Hundreds of statues of Buddha’s disciples meditating, napping, sneezing, and picking their noses.