Places kath253 Wants to Go

Visitors to this museum will discover that kaleidoscopes are much more than toys.

This garden located inside a bamboo forest once belonged to a famous Japanese actor.

The first location of the eventual video game giant.

This 14th-century temple is also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" for its gorgeous gilded reliquary hall.

Established over a thousand years ago, this family-run teahouse continues to serve skewers of sweet rice cake to this day.

This Kyoto Starbucks takes coffee drinkers back in time.

A train ride to the middle of nowhere gives its passengers some of the most iconic views of Japan's seasons.

With over 12,000 different species of plants, this botanical garden is Japan's oldest and most diverse.

A beautiful bamboo trail tucked in this famous Japanese shrine.

This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.

The sound of swaying stalks in this stunning grove has been named a governmentally recognized sound.

This bar is filled with Star Wars merchandise from around the world, all of it unlicensed knockoffs.

The Hanshin Expressway goes right through its 5th, 6th, and 7th floors.

Blowtorches, tuna, and a jolly, chain-smoking proprietor mark this beloved street-food stand.

The only natural gorge in metropolitan Tokyo, with lots of greenery and ancient burial chambers.

Although damaged beyond recognition, this stone god is still said to bring good luck to those who tap on him with a pebble.

Home to a legend of the supernatural raccoon dog, a rare wooden structure of Edo, and witnesses of the Tokyo bombings.

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

A few hidden stones are said to bring fortune and love.

This ordinary set of steps is a must-see destination for fans of a certain romantic anime.

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

People from around the world visit the shrine of Japan’s legendarily loyal dog.

Stuck in a bygone era, the oldest subterranean shopping street in Japan hides beneath the popular Asakusa district of Tokyo.

A railway station takeout shop sells boxed meals in containers shaped like trains and snowmen that hold the country’s abundant regional delicacies.