Places luckytroutbandit Wants to Go

10

Places I want to go

Places on this traveler's wishlist.

The exterior of Chikaramochiya looks much the way it has for centuries.

Kamakura, Japan

Chikaramochiya

Open since 1690, this former teahouse makes “strength mochi” based on the centuries-old recipe.

The Harakiri Yagura, the site of Hōjō Takatoki's suicide.

Kamakura, Japan

Harakiri Yagura

Access to this hidden site of a 14th-century mass suicide is prohibited, unless it is to pray for the dead.

Hansobo Shrine

Kamakura, Japan

Hansobo Shrine

A mountaintop shrine-temple guarded by a horde of half-demon priests.

One of the chambers, with reliefs of Sanskrit characters.

Yokohama, Japan

Taya Caves

A network of ancient tunnels and vaulted chambers with mystical Buddhist reliefs, built for ascetic training.

An army of MSG pandas

Kawasaki, Japan

Ajinomoto MSG Factory

One of the largest producers of MSG in the world welcomes visitors to its Kawasaki factory with an albino panda named Aji-Kun.

Aokigahara Forest

Fujinomiya-shi, Japan

Aokigahara Forest

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

Narusawa Ice Cave

Narusawa-mura, Japan

Narusawa Hyoketsu (Ice Cave)

A 70-foot-deep ice cave formed by lava from Mt. Fuji on the edge of Japan's "Suicide Forest." 

Aerial view of the burial site.

Takasaki, Japan

Hodota Burial Mounds

A trio of keyhole-shaped burial mounds restored to their ancient glory.