Places samireland Wants to Go

Although it has never been a secret ninja base, this shrine still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

This gnome sculpture and his wonderous hat forces train passengers to do a double-take.

Located in a remote mountain valley in Yamagata Prefecture, these hot springs have attracted bathers for over 450 years.

This village is home to the largest existing settlement of the Ainu, the Indigenous people of Japan.

This infamous execution site inspired the beginning of Japan's modernization in the late 18th-century.

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

Turn around and stick your head between your legs for the best view of this tree-covered sandbar.

High in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture, a magnificent library designed by a world-famous architect.

This quirky little private museum is home to more than a thousand stones, carved by nature, that resemble human faces.

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

A Japanese shrine to dolls.

This beautiful Japanese garden is a memorial to the samurai who literally wrote the book on business as martial art.

A sad reminder of the World War II bombing stands largely unnoticed on a street corner.

Legend says the goddess this shrine honors curses any couples that pass by.

Japan's hottest hot spring has a memorable name.

This ancient burial site was once thought to be the home of a race distinctive to Ainu folklore.

This iconic sluice gate is a favorite haunt for joggers, fishing enthusiasts, and even ghost hunters.

According to one legend, this bridge was crafted after monkeys formed a body-bridge across the gorge.

Home to a legend of the supernatural raccoon dog, a rare wooden structure of Edo, and witnesses of the Tokyo bombings.

A strange tribute to all the fallen souls of war.

Home to the world's oldest wooden building.

Fans line up at the crack of dawn for a slurpy bowl of deliciousness at this noodle counter inside a factory.

The site of Japan’s first archaeological excavation is also the birthplace of fingerprint forensics.

Ruins and statues dot the landscape of this tiny island rich with royal history.