A lesser-known sister to Paris's world-famous museum, located within a Buddhist sculpture paradise.

A train station decorated by a giant replica of the ancient Shakōki-dogū figurine found in the area.

A stretch of the Iwai River that features beautiful rocky cliffs, rapids, and flying dango.

A kitsch shrine dedicated to the ogre-slaying folktale hero born from a peach.

A gorgeous, nostalgic café housed in a lofty old warehouse, lit only by petroleum lamps.

These seven moai figures are the world's only sanctioned replicas of the Easter Island originals.

This amusement park brings a little slice of England to the heart of Kyushu.

An ingenious solution to a tricky engineering problem, this spiraling bridge takes drivers for a dizzying spin.

These Japanese ruins have been brought back to life with elaborately recreated buildings.

This ancient shrine has been rebuilt every 20 years since the eighth century.

This temple is steeped in local folklore involving a teakettle and a raccoon dog.

The world's longest tunnel with an undersea section.

An enormous pair of straw sandals woven in the traditional way—to keep demons at bay.

This mountain's identity is stuck somewhere between a nightmare and a scenic tourist attraction.

An eerie reminder to the horrors of World War II.

Giant art made in Japanese rice fields.

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

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

The iconic castle that withstood a magnitude 6.2 earthquake has become a symbol of resilience.

An anthropological theme park that depicts the cultures of around 20 different countries.

A small Japanese village claims to be the final resting place of the son of God (and God's other son's ear).

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

Make your own fake treats at this factory and workshop in the epicenter of Japan's food replica industry.

These Japanese gardens are blankets of light for dark winter nights.