Itakura, Japan
Thousand-Armed Insect Goddess of Mercy
A bizarre statue of a Buddhist goddess made from 20,000 insects.
Places I want to go
Places on this traveler's wishlist.
Itakura, Japan
A bizarre statue of a Buddhist goddess made from 20,000 insects.
Dazaifu, Japan
This is no ordinary coffee chain outlet—it's an architectural masterpiece.
Tokyo, Japan
The enigmatic symbol on this incineration plant's smokestack is, in fact, a one-of-a-kind clock.
Otaru, Japan
This dazzling three-story shop showcases the art and history of music boxes, a popular novelty in Japan.
Sodegaura, Japan
This theme park is not in Tokyo, not especially German, and certainly not a village.
Osaka, Japan
Perhaps the world's cheapest vending machines.
Yokohama, Japan
Unchanged for decades, World War II-era bullet holes and nostalgic ghost signs still haunt this desolate train station.
Ōme, Japan
A collection of nostalgic items from the Showa era with an exhibit on the local ghost story of the Snow Woman.
Kanna, Japan
Fifty-odd dinosaur footprints are preserved on this strip of mountain cliff along with ancient ripple marks.
Kitakyushu, Japan
This futuristic-looking museum was built for the centennial of Japan's most innovative toilet.
Funabashi, Japan
The remains of a prehistoric settlement with a museum showcasing fascinating archaeological finds next to modern artworks.
Itakura, Japan
Thanks to wordplay, the earthquake-causing catfish monster has become a god of confidence at this shrine.
Tokyo, Japan
Cabaret where the show girls are all androids, and the patrons couldn't be more pleased.
Chiba, Japan
This prehistoric site is home to the largest shell midden cluster in Japan.
Ōme, Japan
A hidden alley with seven corners and handmade cat decorations.
Shima, Japan
This Spanish theme park stands out in the Japanese countryside.
Tokyo, Japan
This atmospheric pre-war building is home to one of the few manually operated elevators left in Tokyo.
Kushiro, Japan
This village is home to the largest existing settlement of the Ainu, the Indigenous people of Japan.
Shimanto-chō, Japan
A whimsical museum dedicated to the mischievous kappa, a mythical cucumber-loving water sprite.
Izumo-shi, Japan
What's believed to be the country's first shrine is, in Shintō mythology, the annual meeting place of the gods.
Koshu, Japan
A monk-run winery inside a Buddhist temple celebrates Japan's crown grape varietal.
Tamana, Japan
A mysterious set of tunnels carved in the hills of rural northern Kyushu.
Ishinomaki, Japan
On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.
Nagakute, Japan
A real-life replica of a home from Hayao Miyazaki's beloved movie "My Neighbor Totoro."