Places ouroborosasunder Wants to Go

Legend holds that a tortoise turned itself into this island to save two shipwrecked sailors.

A massive, gleaming sea turtle with a rider atop its shell looks out over the horizon.

Learn about the indigenous people of Japan's northernmost islands.

An open-air museum exhibiting a total of 52 century-old buildings, recreating Hokkaido’s “pioneer village.”

The lesser-known eastern counterpart to Kyoto’s famous fox shrine.

A whimsical museum dedicated to the mischievous kappa, a mythical cucumber-loving water sprite.

Historical Japanese-Dutch relations are honored with haunted rides and flower fields in this replica town.

This town near Nagasaki is flecked with fruit-flavored bus stops.

The giant figure on the back of this turtle-shaped temple actually hides a memorial pendulum.

White beach sands made of the remains of tiny, star shaped creatures.

A waterfall runs right through the middle of this Taiwanese shrine to the hundreds of workers killed while building a nearby highway.

A Japanese colonial-era hot springs hotel that has transformed into an art museum.

This kitschy, kinky homage to Taipei’s old “grandpa shops” is full of eye-candy.

Dine on Hakka dishes at a dreamy cottage nestled in the heart of Taipei.

Taiwan's last Chinese character letterpress preserves the dying art of Chinese character mold making.

Taiwan’s iconic dish is in peak form here.

Fully loaded, Tunisian-style sandwiches are on the menu at this unassuming hole-in-the-wall.

This 24-hour vending machine serves up homemade treats inspired by the local Japanese snow monkeys.

Step back in time at this historic variety store, packed with items from a bygone era.

More than 100 antique vending machines housed in a used tire shop sell everything from candy to sake and ramen.

This Tudor-style mansion is home to the first roadside confectioner in the United States.

For more than 25 years, this Philadelphia store has been offering a wide selection of Victorian oddities and antiques.

The head of a legendary lumberjack watches over a river in Maine.

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