Places pamelajoon Wants to Go

Each year this Japanese temple overflows with scowling, bearded good luck talismans.

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

This pond is so stunning it looks like you've stepped into one of Monet's masterpieces.

An unlikely hit, this museum is dedicated to the inventor of instant ramen and cup noodles.

The largest volcanic caldera in Japan holds an entire city in its maw.

Be a ninja - or just act like one.

An astounding annual light display honors the victims of one of Japan's most devastating earthquakes.

A steaming, boiling hellscape sources Hokkaido's thermal baths.

This isolated Japanese mountain village untouched by time showcases unique and stunning traditional architecture.

The Hanshin Expressway goes right through its 5th, 6th, and 7th floors.

With over 12,000 different species of plants, this botanical garden is Japan's oldest and most diverse.

The bartenders at this crime-fighting theme cafe are actual private detectives by day.

Twelve hundred stone carvings guard this off-the-beaten-path Buddhist temple.

Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

We heard you like volcanoes so we put a volcano in your volcano so you can die for sure...

This pair of small sea rocks has been "wed" using rope and ancient Shinto tradition.

Drinkslinger is an unlikely vocation for a Buddhist monk, but at this Tokyo bar the enlightenment is served in a martini glass.

A restaurant modeled after feudal Japan, where the waitstaff are trained as ninjas.

A bronze statue dating back as far as 1252, still has remnants of gold on its right cheek from ancient gilding.

One of Japan's most famous sights, the bridge was originally built in 1673.

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

After a profound show of devotion for his master, a dog becomes the symbol of loyalty for an entire nation.

This Buddhist temple is home to the graves of the Japanese national legends, the 47 Ronin.

This Japanese national treasure was originally built in 593.