Places samireland Wants to Go

The Hanshin Expressway goes right through its 5th, 6th, and 7th floors.

This pair of small sea rocks has been "wed" using rope and ancient Shinto tradition.

An oddly touching memorial to a little-remembered nuclear tragedy.

This ordinary set of steps is a must-see destination for fans of a certain romantic anime.

These unique toilets feature transparent glass covered in PDLC film.

Enormous underground chamber built to detect 'ghost particles' of the universe.

The tallest city hall in the world offers an excellent bento box.

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

The world's largest drain sits below the city of Kasukabe, Japan.

One of the world's largest tanks mimics the experience of watching rare whale sharks, giant rays, and deep sea creatures from the ocean floor.

We heard you like volcanoes so we put a volcano in your volcano so you can die for sure...

An astounding annual light display honors the victims of one of Japan's most devastating earthquakes.

A rare festival blending religion, blacksmiths, vagina dentata, sex workers, and the straight-up facts of life.

A remarkable lava formation encloses a line of Buddhist statues that can't be accurately counted, according to local mythology.

Unusual hexagonal rocks formed by cooling lava named for their resemblance to traditional Japanese tatami mats.

Abandoned Japanese ghost town gives a glimpse into what our own metropolises may leave behind.

A disconnected rotary phone for "calling" lost loved ones offered a unique way of dealing with grief in disaster-stricken Japan.

Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

A steaming, boiling hellscape sources Hokkaido's thermal baths.

The world’s first hotel to be run by robots.

The 43-mile route crosses through six islands with gorgeous views of the Seto Inland Sea.

A real-life replica of a home from Hayao Miyazaki's beloved movie "My Neighbor Totoro."

This little replica of Lady Liberty provides a bit of NYC in a Japanese city.

Blowtorches, tuna, and a jolly, chain-smoking proprietor mark this beloved street-food stand.