This mythical weapon stuck on the mountaintop is also the site of the first honeymoon in Japan's history.

Ever needed a chocolate-filled crepe in the wee hours of the morning?

This retro underwater observation tower would make the perfect lair for a sea-loving villain.

The Buddhist temples of Yamadera, built into a mountain side, feature a viewing deck with sweeping views.

This active volcano's siren song to suicide jumpers forced authorities to build a fence.

Sulphuric gases inhabit a beautiful Japanese island.

This giant bronze Buddha, the third largest in Japan, is the last in an ill-fated series of statues.

This “forbidden” sanctuary has managed to preserve a unique, ancient ecosystem.

Bioluminescent firefly squid light up this Japanese fishing port.

You can still find treasures on the pebbly beaches of one of the world's oldest jade-producing areas.

Running through lush forests and across the Tadami River, this train line offers breathtaking views of rural Japan.

A sacred place for ascetic training, set in a honeycomb-walled cliffside cave deep in the woods.

A collection of more than 1,000 teddies from nearly any profession.

The divine septet of Japanese fortune gods are rendered in 1,000-year-old wood at this peaceful site.

A town's namesake rock has served as a spiritual matchmaker for hundreds of years.

A long-forgotten homage to an eldritch, sassy spider yōkai that was once worshipped here as a god.

One of the last great old-school fish markets in Japan's Tohoku Region.

These tiny pine-covered islands have inspired art and poetry for centuries.

One of the tallest statues in the world, and the tallest statue of a goddess in Japan.

This snack factory boasts several tributes to its popular line of rice crackers, including a quasi-shrine.

Located in a remote mountain valley in Yamagata Prefecture, these hot springs have attracted bathers for over 450 years.

Local legend claims that this is the final resting place of an infamous cannibal hag.

Museum dedicated to extraterrestrial sightings in a town famous for them

On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.