Places lepainperdu Wants to Go

Crawl through the hole in the middle of this stone to break off a bad relationship or initiate a good one.

A tiny collection of traditional Japanese woodblock prints, open only when the owner feels like it.

The quintessential Japanese rock garden has existed for more than 500 years.

A moss-covered statue of a Japanese Buddhist deity stands at a quiet temple in downtown Osaka.

A railway station takeout shop sells boxed meals in containers shaped like trains and snowmen that hold the country’s abundant regional delicacies.

A miniature view of the park, caught in time.

A speck of nature and art in one of San Francisco’s most notorious neighborhoods.

One of few lasting examples of the brief octagon craze that developed into folly.

Created in 1972, the famous sculptor's intricately detailed monument to San Francisco is overflowing with city landmarks.

Nestled in the heart of San Francisco’s bustling Financial District stands a unique homage to the Mayan and Beaux Arts.

The hundreds of movies and television shows shot in this high desert town are commemorated in a unique museum.

Semi-recognized center of the world, with many oddities.

A small medical museum with a recreated doctor's office.

The Citrus Variety Collection at UC Riverside contains two trees of each of the 1,000+ varieties of citrus.

The biggest pinball arcade in the world has over 600 pinball machines, and 300 arcade machines.

The decaying adobe remains of an old homestead are just off the beaten path in Joshua Tree National Park.

The only thing stranger than stumbling onto these philosophical musings is the story of the homesteader who created them.

This “living museum” at UCLA exhibits thousands of plant species from all over the world.

It took over 100 years to decode this enigmatic epitaph for two buried brides.

A prohibition-style speakeasy takes up residence in the last Victorian residence in Hollywood.

Formerly Fire Station No. 27, the museum is a hidden gem in the heart of Hollywood.

A macabre tour of Hollywood’s deadly history.

A "Titanic" superfan changed his name to Jack and set up this strange shrine to the blockbuster, complete with Korean food and Tarot readings.

A shrine to a skeleton saint in the city of angels.