Places Lisa De Vriese Wants to Go

Founded over a thousand years ago, this shrine is said to be built on the site of a warlord's harem prison.

This bar is filled with Star Wars merchandise from around the world, all of it unlicensed knockoffs.

This tiny museum hidden above a restaurant houses thousands of modern and traditional kites.

Kawaii meets poisonous at this unique art gallery.

Each year this Japanese temple overflows with scowling, bearded good luck talismans.

The cutest shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to bunnies.

Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

A rare festival blending religion, blacksmiths, vagina dentata, sex workers, and the straight-up facts of life.

A King Kong-like gorilla hangs from the top of this commercial building in Tokyo.

People from around the world visit the shrine of Japan’s legendarily loyal dog.

A bibliophile's heaven that contains hundreds of bookstores, offering over a third of secondhand books for sale in Tokyo.

A bronze statue dating back as far as 1252, still has remnants of gold on its right cheek from ancient gilding.

Thirty architectural gems from the 19th- and early 20th-century Tokyo were restored and relocated to this space.

A plaque marks the site directly below the mid-air detonation of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima.

The self-mummified monks of Japan.

Transport yourself to the 1980s era of video games at this themed restaurant and bar.

This spa theme park lets its guests take a dip in pools of coffee, wine, or ramen broth.

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

A beautiful, dense forest in the shadow of Mount Fuji, with a tragic reputation.

A magical place that lets you play in and explore the world of Studio Ghibli.

A journey through every aspect of the human body.

A Swiss magician's vault of oddities.

Museum featuring strange and enchanting toys of the past.

Natural history museum displaying a famous taxidermied St. Bernard.