Places samireland Wants to Go

An eclectic temple with Chinese architecture, Korean lion-dogs, an Indian god and a legendary 700-year-old tree.

A kitsch shrine dedicated to the ogre-slaying folktale hero born from a peach.

Visit a speakeasy-like indie cinema specializing in 16mm and 35mm films.

In the oldest zen temple stands a descendant of the very tree that introduced tea to Japanese culture.

Inaccessible by foot, Japan's most secluded train station sits in the middle of nowhere.

This statue of Buddha has a distinctive hairstyle meant to represent an unfathomably long period of meditation.

High in the trees or suspended between cables, these surreal structures are the works of a unique Japanese architect.

This ancient burial cave along a roadside is also home to several Buddhist sculptures.

A giant rooftop ride with unbeatable views of Matsuyama city, the nearby mountain ranges, and the Inland Sea.

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

These tiny pine-covered islands have inspired art and poetry for centuries.

A statue meant to celebrate peace has also been interpreted as a mother taking away her son's internet privileges.

Disused for decades, this freight railway bridge is finally being renovated into a scenic promenade.

A network of ancient tunnels and vaulted chambers with mystical Buddhist reliefs, built for ascetic training.

The hometown of a beloved manga artist created a treasure hunt for his popular ghostly characters.

This giant two-tier celebration cake serves as a befitting advert for the confectionery college it sits on top of.

A colorful, architectural experiment designed to increase a resident's longevity.

Chiseled out of a sandstone cliff, one farmer's unfinished art project lies in ruins.

Though it won't take you far, the wood train housed at this station is the last of its kind in Japan.

A wooden prison doesn't sound like a good idea, yet this abandoned 1950s detention center still stands today.

A bovine sumo match in which both bulls live to fight another day.

Would you spend the night in Japan's deepest train station?

The “bridge of return” is haunted by a myriad of legends, from ghosts to demons to nuptial superstitions.

Over 40 species of fern cover the canyon walls of this lush green bowl, cut off from the bustle of the world by a cave entrance.