The largest volcanic caldera in Japan holds an entire city in its maw.

The iconic castle that withstood a magnitude 6.2 earthquake has become a symbol of resilience.

Historical Japanese-Dutch relations are honored with haunted rides and flower fields in this replica town.

The largest archaeological site from the Yayoi period.

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

This giant shopping mall still holds signs of its automotive past.

Exquisite irises bloom every spring in this hillside garden.

A pair of pure white felines guard the entrance to a spot of California real estate established as an artist's haven.

The Internet Age began with a transmission from this biker bar.

One of the largest Marian shrines on the West Coast stands rather unexpectedly in Silicon Valley.

An Aladdin's cave of old Silicon Valley tech.

One of the largest free-standing structures ever built, this dirigible hangar is now simply a giant skeleton.

From the Difference Engine to the Cray-1, all under one roof.

A lonely monument to the original Silicon Valley tech campus.

The graffiti-covered remnants of a former triangulation station are balanced precariously on this California peak.

Art Deco stylings conceal the true nature of this bridge.

I Street Bridge is the heaviest swinging center bridge in the United States.

The California capital city once stood 10 feet lower than it does today.

An alley covered with 20 years of bubble gum.

The headquarters of the semiconductor giant has a 10,000-square-foot museum.

A life-sized mammoth sculpture marks the spot where the remains of a Columbian mammoth were discovered in 2005.

The garage at the childhood home of Steve Jobs was a hangout for the founders of Apple, even if they never built computers there.

Guarded by the Angel of Grief, the Stanford family tomb attracts an odd mix of halloween revelry and somber contemplation.

A hidden world of exotic succulents and cacti.