Places KoinuSensei Wants to Go

Sample specialties from Xinjiang at this Shinjuku neighborhood gem.

The overgrown ruins of this once majestic castle sit forlornly in the Scottish countryside.

A 59-ft. robot statue looks over the citizens of earthquake-ravaged Kobe.

An astounding annual light display honors the victims of one of Japan's most devastating earthquakes.

The world's narrowest strait is often mistaken for a canal.

The Japanese mayo factory famous for its cute mascot.

One of the largest producers of MSG in the world welcomes visitors to its Kawasaki factory with an albino panda named Aji-Kun.

Baked in 1898 and still almost flawless, this floral masterpiece is considered the world's oldest complete wedding cake.

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

This strange mural located in the Ueno station is filled with traditional Japanese symbolism.

Designed by a computer, this intricate network of fluorescent green pipes has taken over a subway station.

Take a few seconds to look at this abandoned, art-filled station as you pass by on the subway to Ueno.

Mythical beasts symbolizing the city of Tokyo guard a historic bridge.

Discover the past, present, and future of packaging in this unique Japanese museum.

A brick foundation and piles of listing building materials are all that remains of this World War II POW camp.

The whimsical steel spider lurking in the shadows of this suspension bridge shows that engineers can have a sense of humor.

When King Oswald was killed in battle, an eagle dropped his arm here creating a new spring.

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

Cat art as far as the eye can see.

This giant statue pays homage to this temple's furry residents who keep the landscape pristine.

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

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

A century-old tradition has culminated in a small but singular collection of feline effigies.

These 90-year-old murals of local kings, Vikings, and outlaws hide in plain sight in a beautifully baroque shopping arcade.