Places pingophone Wants to Go

The world's second-largest toy production company has a lineup of its heroes outside

This statue of the "shiny uncle of Beppu" was erected in 2007.

This amusement park brings a little slice of England to the heart of Kyushu.

This futuristic-looking museum was built for the centennial of Japan's most innovative toilet.

The floats housed in this hall are more than 100 years old, and are brought out for an annual celebration.

A whimsical shrine with a porcelain Torii gate, split in half by an active train line.

Buried nine feet under, these houses are preserved as a stark reminder of the disastrous 1991 Unzen eruption.

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

This ornate example of 19th-century Chinese architecture is one of only a handful of Confucius shrines in Japan.

Once the most densely populated place in the world, this island is now a ghost town.

This train station meeting spot is an actual, millennia-old tree from the island of Yakushima.

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

This ancient temple is set up to take you on a pilgrimage of self.

Established in 1950, this humble burger joint is the oldest surviving one in Japan.

The Buddhist temples of Yamadera, built into a mountain side, feature a viewing deck with sweeping views.

A culturally significant rural temple in the beautiful mountains of Itoshima.

Secret tunnels leading to underground facilities lurk near the remains of a World War II-era Japanese Navy airbase.

This traditional Japanese shrine is dedicated to four Shinto deities.

This small Japanese street is lined with figures, sculptures and a shrine dedicated to frogs.

This historic castle is one of the oldest and most impressive in all of Japan.

The only Buddhist temple in Japan dedicated to breasts.

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

This brothel-turned-restaurant features plenty of surprises and elaborate, extravagant architecture.

Visitors to this temple are greeted by a massive collection of wooden dolls said to bring good fortune.