The statue's head is one of the few fragments of the original Urakami Cathedral to survive the atomic bomb.

This ornate example of 19th-century Chinese architecture is one of only a handful of Confucius shrines in Japan.

An exquisite tunnel of cascading flowers.

The birthplace of the Japanese idiom "wet clothes" meaning “false accusation."

In the oldest zen temple stands a descendant of the very tree that introduced tea to Japanese culture.

It is rumored that if you spot this little golden frog hiding in plain sight, good luck will come your way.

Historical Japanese-Dutch relations are honored with haunted rides and flower fields in this replica town.

A memorial to the man who brought Western medicine to Japan.

The giant figure on the back of this turtle-shaped temple actually hides a memorial pendulum.

The oldest western-style houses in Japan are centered around the industrialist Thomas Glover.

A faithful reconstruction of what was once the only window into Japan.

Steaming blood-red hot spring from hell.

An eccentric castle with snake protectors and spectacular views of Beppu.

This statue of the "shiny uncle of Beppu" was erected in 2007.

This amusement park brings a little slice of England to the heart of Kyushu.

Buried nine feet under, these houses are preserved as a stark reminder of the disastrous 1991 Unzen eruption.

The iconic castle that withstood a magnitude 6.2 earthquake has become a symbol of resilience.

Come for the fish sundae, stay for the collection of Studio Ghibli cat buses.

This bridge is so steep it looks like a rollercoaster.

The hometown of a beloved manga artist created a treasure hunt for his popular ghostly characters.

A dramatic landscape of ancient lava, carved into hexagonal columns by nature itself.

The site of a famous samurai duel.

This futuristic-looking museum was built for the centennial of Japan's most innovative toilet.

A culturally significant rural temple in the beautiful mountains of Itoshima.