At this shrine, a sacred stone is said to keep a sea monster at bay.

The only electricity pylon built over two lanes of traffic.

This ruined Japanese stripclub sits half burnt to the ground.

The ruin of a Japanese love hotel almost completely overgrown with brambles.

The ruins of Japan’s premier water brothel.

This beautiful defunct water tower adds a European flair to a traditional Japanese neighborhood.

An old-fashioned school with interesting grounds and deep history, including the original Mito Castle gate.

This Spanish theme park stands out in the Japanese countryside.

Huts like this were once a hub for the female divers who collected pearls and seafood off Japan's coasts.

Largest graveyard in all of Japan surrounds a famous mausoleum.

This museum tells the stories of Japanese soldiers who went on torpedo kamikaze missions.

The traditional houses along the coast of this charming Japanese fishing village allow people to sleep above the sea.

This pond is so stunning it looks like you've stepped into one of Monet's masterpieces.

High in the trees or suspended between cables, these surreal structures are the works of a unique Japanese architect.

The largest of its kind in Japan, this century-old wasabi farm is also known for its appearance in an Akira Kurosawa film.

This isolated Japanese mountain village untouched by time showcases unique and stunning traditional architecture.

A statue erected on an infamous cliff where young boys would hold dangerous "pee offs" to prove their mettle.

Hanging over one of Japan’s “hidden valleys,” these vine bridges must be remade every three years.

Nope, not the one in France. The only officially-recognized reproduction of Monet’s garden in Giverny is located in a remote corner of Japan.

Kokera sushi may be the rarest sushi you have never heard of. 

The former site of Fukuoka’s legendary ramen joint works hard to guide customers to the “original” original.

A bizarre, tuberculosis sanatorium-themed café moonlighting as an underground art gallery.

A historical western settlement that is known as one of the three most disappointing sights of Japan.

A monument commemorating the execution of 26 canonized Christians from the 16th century.