The self-mummified monks of Japan.

A 20-meter (65-foot) robot towers over Tokyo Bay.

This enormous monument is one of the most iconic structures in Tokyo, rudely nicknamed "The Golden Turd."

One of the top 100 sights of feudal Tokyo continues to impress those who visit the lesser temples of Ueno.

Japan’s tallest Godzilla statue contains a piece of the original 1954 film within its base.

Not quite the menace it once was, this monster still has some chops.

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

These tiny pine-covered islands have inspired art and poetry for centuries.

A disconnected rotary phone for "calling" lost loved ones offered a unique way of dealing with grief in disaster-stricken Japan.

A massive cave complex boasts some of the clearest water (and most charming bats) in the world.

A rare surviving set of early 17th-century bronze finials remain on this bridge.

According to local folklore, a demon left his handprints on these boulders, which became the prefecture’s namesake.

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

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

The tallest bronze seated statue of the Buddha in Japan.

Celebrating the famous Nebuta festival of Aomori and showcasing its huge papier-mâché floats.

Giant art made in Japanese rice fields.

The northernmost of the 12 surviving feudal castles of Japan is known as a cherry blossom viewing spot.

A natural resemblance of the monster of film lore.

Two ogres stand guard at the Oga Visitor Center.

These boots are made for selfies.

Three hundred years of preserved Spanish colonial history in San Antonio.

The 40-foot-tall votive candle is the largest of its kind.

This big empty pig is a nostalgic throwback to mid-20th-century Texas barbecue.