Places spiderhouses Wants to Go

Over 80 years old, this hand-dug tunnel is a Chinese-style portal to another world.

Nestled among the bamboos in a temple complex, this art installation serves as a unique memorial to insects.

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

This one-of-a-kind indie publisher-bookshop specializes in archiving historic red-light districts and niche cultural topics of the Shōwa era.

This century-old electronics store-turned-cafe serves comforting, retro fare.

This subterranean spot might be the epitome of Japan's baroque, retro coffee houses.

Overlooked by many, this tiny sacred island in Ueno Park only opens to the public every 12 days.

This retro café is a remnant of Japan’s post-war Argentine tango craze.

Thousands of foxes are said to gather and parade across the neighborhood of Ōji on New Year’s Eve.

The home and studio of one of Japan's most avant-garde artists is now a museum showcasing his surreal works.

When this clock strikes a certain time, puppets showcase a story of life in Edo Japan.

Mythical beasts symbolizing the city of Tokyo guard a historic bridge.

Weighing nearly seven tons, this massive sculpture was carved out of 500-year-old wood and decorated with thousands of jewels.

This museum celebrates the history of Japanese advertising, from feudal business tricks to modern T.V. commercials.

A bibliophile's heaven that contains hundreds of bookstores, offering over a third of secondhand books for sale in Tokyo.

Though technically an illegal structure, this eclectic DIY apartment complex is beloved by its residents.

This futuristic-looking museum was built for the centennial of Japan's most innovative toilet.

An eccentric castle with snake protectors and spectacular views of Beppu.

Thousands of well-dressed mummies below a monastery.

Behind medieval walls in a corner of bustling Palermo is a breathtaking former mosque once inhabited by a wolf-taming hermit.

An abandoned shopping gallery built during Fascist Italy tucked in the center of Palermo.

Haunting graffiti left by prisoners of the Spanish Inquisition.

This unique museum is home to over 5,000 puppets of all types.

This palace offers an 18th-century European take on Chinese design and architecture.