Places samireland Wants to Go

The remains of the Minatogawa Man found here are among the oldest known skeleton specimens from Japan.

The burial site of 16 men’s hair buns, which were lopped off in place of their heads.

A mountain demon once helped a local villager construct a canal, after which he sat on this oak tree to rest.

A rock with images of infernal judges sculpted on it, offering a panoramic view of Kamakura.

The site of one of the only two star-shaped forts in Japan was used as an elementary school for over a century, much longer than its life as a castle.

Thousands of members of one family rest in peace at Okinawa's largest community gravesite.

A displaced shrine that was put back after a string of bad luck.

This Buddhist temple may have the best example of a Pure Land garden in Japan.

Once a year, these 'visitor deities' chase away evil spirits with a phallic-shaped staff.

A school destroyed by fire and tsunami simultaneously is preserved as a memorial.

A hidden empanada shop run by the biggest Boca Juniors F.C Japanese fan.

A well-known Japanese musician’s all-night concert on this island is immortalized by an unusual work of art.

This station on an abandoned railway line, named for “happiness,” is still a popular destination for lovers.

Electricians pray for luck at this place where, according to legend, the god of thunder was once trapped.

Three rare “road guardian” stelae with reliefs of the Tengu can be found in the town of Naruse.

Reaching Japan’s “most dangerous shrine” means climbing a vertical cliff.

The sacred slope said to mark the gateway to the underworld.

Students pray here in hopes of entering one of Japan’s most prestigious universities.

Locals have put a new makeup on this strange statue every year since they unearthed it.

This train station has no entrances or exits for pedestrians, and exists only to take advantage of the area’s view.

A bar dedicated to he Jojo manga franchise, with over 50 original cocktails.

After an Englishmen was killed by a samurai here in 1862, a two-day war changed the course of Japanese history.

These medieval wooden bridge pillars appeared out of nowhere in the aftermath of a huge earthquake.

A giant man-eating crab monster allegedly left its claw marks on this unassuming boulder.