This enormous monument is one of the most iconic structures in Tokyo, rudely nicknamed "The Golden Turd."

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way—to keep demons at bay.

For hundreds of years, participants in this Japanese festival have been making babies cry to ward off demons.

A miniature shrine in the busy corner of Tokyo's historic Broadway, honoring a sextet of unusual entertainment gods.

The world's largest permanent architectural projection display entertains audiences nightly with 28-story light shows.

The tallest city hall in the world offers an excellent bento box.

Only recently added to the shrine, this googly-eyed snail demon of unknown origin is said to have eye-healing powers.

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

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

Not quite the menace it once was, this monster still has some chops.

Colloquially known as “piss alley,” this narrow street filled with tiny bars and barbecue stands looks like it was pulled straight out of “Blade Runner.”

Cabaret where the show girls are all androids, and the patrons couldn't be more pleased.

A Catholicism-themed restaurant where sacrilege is on the menu.

Go through the looking glass in Tokyo's Wonderland-themed shop.

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

This often-overlooked monument was crafted in the shape of the iconic samurai coin to honor an Edo-period mint.

Rubbing salt on this small stone dog is said to make wishes come true.

This museum is dedicated to the cultural history of tobacco and salt, once monopolized in Japan.

This water goblin statue represents a 19th-century urban legend about a haunted canal that became a Japanese idiom.

Since Tokyo's Kiyosu Bridge was inspired by a historic bridge that crossed over the Rhine, this viewing spot is known as a "view of Cologne."

Once the park closes at sunset, the greatest haiku poet of all time moves to face the Sumida River.

The predecessor to this bridge was depicted in a famous Japanese woodcut print that influenced Van Gogh.

Run a wash cycle while sipping a latte at this community-oriented café.

“Historical” markers commemorating the sites of fictional events depicted in a popular jidaigeki novel series.