A dilapidated amusement park with a million-dollar view.

Fans line up at the crack of dawn for a slurpy bowl of deliciousness at this noodle counter inside a factory.

This high-design church is made up of two dizzying spirals meant to evoke the weaving together of marriage.

This train station has no entrances or exits for pedestrians, and exists only to take advantage of the area’s view.

A rare example of an ancient Japanese hill castle believed to be the fortress of a legendary demon.

This unusual "magical shrine" honors a legendary raccoon-dog god that stowed away to Japan from some far-off land.

This pair of small sea rocks has been "wed" using rope and ancient Shinto tradition.

Turn around and stick your head between your legs for the best view of this tree-covered sandbar.

This massive, Edo Period, coin-shaped sand painting is believed to be a source of great luck.

What's believed to be the country's first shrine is, in Shintō mythology, the annual meeting place of the gods.

The sacred slope said to mark the gateway to the underworld.

A Japanese corporation has turned this small island town into living modern art gallery.

Enjoy traditional Louisiana-style gumbo and the spirit of Southern hospitality 7,000 miles from New Orleans.

This unique museum explores the world of Japanese demons and spirits.

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

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

This temple is steeped in local folklore involving a teakettle and a raccoon dog.

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

This quirky little private museum is home to more than a thousand stones, carved by nature, that resemble human faces.

The birthplace of Japanese coinage.

An unusual structure of stone and glass honoring one of Japan’s most eminent Christian leaders who founded the non-church movement.

Children's literature inside, forest all around.

The oldest academic institution in Japan provides a glimpse of university life during the days of the samurai.

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