A 1000-year-old shrine in Kyoto with a poorly planned sacred arch.

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

A film center envisioned to rival Cannes ended up as a haunted place after at least 168 people were killed during the rushed construction.

A blast from the past in central San Diego.

The hot chocolate here all stems from small, sustainable microproducers in Chiapas and Tabasco.

This immense scene of a cosmic battle between a jaguar and serpent illustrates the Aztec concept of the duality of life.

A replica of one of South Korea's National Treasures stands as a tribute to that country's relations with Mexico.

A fabulously bizarre surrealist sculpture by the late artist Leonora Carrington.

In 2008, this Mexico City metro station was the site of an hours-long fight between emo, punk, and goth groups.

This giant expressionist head crowns a museum devoted to a beloved Mexican leader.

A red steel coyote towering over one of Mexico City’s largest suburbs.

A 16th-century convent became a contemporary art museum.

A grand entrance to one of the world's smallest Chinatowns.

A shining treasure trove of fine Mexican silver dating back to the 15th century.

These museum grounds are a Dalai Lama-declared peace oasis.

An ode to a chess-loving diplomat.

A bronze statue of the famed Prussian naturalist commemorates the year he spent in Mexico.

A bizarre example of collective behavior resulted in thousands of shoe prints in Vegas parking lots.

This Las Vegas casino boasts one of only three spiral escalators in the United States—an engineering wonder.

Japan's first train station is also the site of Godzilla's first destructive visit to the nation.

This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

Coast along one of Japan’s mountain railways for coveted views of magnificent hydrangeas.

Open-air museum with an elaborate sculpture garden, stretching for over 70,000 square-meters.