Places Joseph van L Wants to Go

Tokyo’s only Ainu restaurant serves Indigenous food from northern Japan.

Thousands of foxes are said to gather and parade across the neighborhood of Ōji on New Year’s Eve.

Enjoy a flaming concoction steeped in steampunk, magic, and alchemy at this experimental cocktail bar.

Founded in 1880, this humble brewery still practices a disappearing technique of sake-making.

This western-themed amusement park is host to a large number of decaying animatronic cowboys.

Historical Japanese-Dutch relations are honored with haunted rides and flower fields in this replica town.

The self-mummified monks of Japan.

1,001 carved statues of the Buddhist God of Mercy, each with a unique face.

The oldest hotel in the world has been operated by the same family for over 1,300 years, even catering to samurai.

This Buddhist temple is home to the graves of the Japanese national legends, the 47 Ronin.

Above the door of a house, a plaque claims to commemorate the future living place of the inventor of time travel.

When you're a great Russian Tsar, even your vomit gets a statue.

The Devil’s own choice when he needs a drink in Brussels.

This neighborhood thoroughfare is haunted by dozens of homemade monsters.

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

A taste of the macabre Tokyo's ritzy shopping district.

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

A bizarre philosophy-themed park founded by an occult expert.

The only Kurdish restaurant in Japan invites you to learn and feast.

The 650 red and white Japanese plum trees of this Tokyo neighborhood blossom each spring.

Losing lottery tickets are deposited at this shrine in hopes of better luck.

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

Six ravens are kept captive (but well-fed) at the Tower of London to prevent the fall of the Crown.

Legend has it this gnarled old tree was planted by Tsar Peter the Great during his visit to London.