Tokyo’s “Kitchen Town” hosts a number of shops selling intricate food replicas.

Mythical beasts symbolizing the city of Tokyo guard a historic bridge.

A mysterious mountaintop temple infamous as the legendary home of the Tengu

A small shrine dedicated to a tanuki statue, tucked away in a Blade Runner-esque izakaya alley

This ancient, tranquil shrine is the birthplace of ema prayer boards and the Ushi-no-toki-mairi curse ritual.

A 1000-year-old shrine in Kyoto with a poorly planned sacred arch.

This compact temple is filled with garlands of colorful balls that represent restrained monkeys.

The groundbreaking Japanese shrine maiden who invented the art of kabuki.

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

A beautiful, dense forest in the shadow of Mount Fuji, with a tragic reputation.

Japan's first train station is also the site of Godzilla's first destructive visit to the nation.

In Asakusa, Tokyo's very own Walk of Fame.

Rumored to be a giant robot in disguise, this colossal chef has been the beloved symbol of Tokyo’s kitchenware district for decades.

These sculptures were created by a 17th-century artist who had never seen an elephant.

This frenetic mural recalls an annual festival that once took the city by storm.

View Japan's most historic city from a cyberpunk walkway suspended 150 feet above the ground.

An LED art installation composed of 600 poles wrapped in kimono fabric.

These turtle-shaped concrete stepping stones provide a unique river crossing in central Kyoto.

This 400-year-old sweet shop serves a delicacy some have described as "edible incense."

1,001 carved statues of the Buddhist God of Mercy, each with a unique face.

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

Eat the ultimate iteration of Portugal's most beloved pastry.

One of the oldest family businesses in Reykjavík serves lamb-based hot dogs.

This quirky collection of furniture also happens to be a public art installation.