Places mossenmoons Wants to Go

A bizarre statue of a Buddhist goddess made from 20,000 insects.

Every summer, this shrine sets up a tiny drinking fountain reserved for thirsty apians.

It is rumored that if you spot this little golden frog hiding in plain sight, good luck will come your way.

A natural resemblance of the monster of film lore.

An old-fashioned school with interesting grounds and deep history, including the original Mito Castle gate.

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

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

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

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

Over 40 species of fern cover the canyon walls of this lush green bowl, cut off from the bustle of the world by a cave entrance.

There's light and a dreamlike panorama at the end of this tunnel.

An isolated "phantom bridge" doomed to crumble into ruin.

For centuries, this gold mine was the powerhouse behind the Tokugawa Shogunate.

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

Tatar Russian in origin, the largest mosque in Japan is now an Ottoman-style Turkish culture center.

Would you spend the night in Japan's deepest train station?

Losing lottery tickets are deposited at this shrine in hopes of better luck.

This massive, Edo Period, coin-shaped sand painting is believed to be a source of great luck.

A small museum in a ward on the east side of Tokyo showcases the works of one of Japan's greatest ukiyo-e artists.

This ancient burial cave along a roadside is also home to several Buddhist sculptures.

Though it won't take you far, the wood train housed at this station is the last of its kind in Japan.

A shrine dedicated to the sacred white snakes of Iwakuni, whose albinism has been passed down for generations.

Inaccessible by foot, Japan's most secluded train station sits in the middle of nowhere.

Run a wash cycle while sipping a latte at this community-oriented café.