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

These medieval stone-cut Buddhist statues may protect visitors from being fired.

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

Steaming blood-red hot spring from hell.

A giant rooftop ride with unbeatable views of Matsuyama city, the nearby mountain ranges, and the Inland Sea.

An eerie reminder to the horrors of World War II.

Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

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

This Japanese national treasure was originally built in 593.

Perhaps the world's cheapest vending machines.

Surreal giant face-pillars welcome visitors from across the globe to this hotel.

Devoted Buddhists can earn enlightenment in the next life by crawling through this symbolic nostril.

This massive wooden building contains a giant Buddha, healing pillars, and tame deer wandering the grounds.

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

The groundbreaking Japanese shrine maiden who invented the art of kabuki.

1,001 carved statues of the Buddhist God of Mercy, each with a unique face.

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

This Kyoto Starbucks takes coffee drinkers back in time.

This kitsch-forward diner is dedicated to an almost-forgotten “one-cent” prototype of okonomiyaki.

The cutest shrine in Kyoto is dedicated to bunnies.

Legend has it that centuries ago, a ghost once frequented this candy shop to feed her still-living baby.

It is believed that this Buddhist temple stands right on the gateway to the underworld.

This 14th-century temple is also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" for its gorgeous gilded reliquary hall.

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