Roots and stumps that lay inundated for two millennia are on display in Japan's city of three mysteries.

This traditional Japanese-style house doubles as one of James Turrell's colorful works of art.

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

The traditional houses along the coast of this charming Japanese fishing village allow people to sleep above the sea.

A network of sandy streets lined with verdant fukugi trees weaves throughout this tiny seaside town.

A moss-covered statue of a Japanese Buddhist deity stands at a quiet temple in downtown Osaka.

This tiny museum hidden above a restaurant houses thousands of modern and traditional kites.

This 14th-century temple is also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" for its gorgeous gilded reliquary hall.

Each year this Japanese temple overflows with scowling, bearded good luck talismans.

Be a ninja - or just act like one.

Established over a thousand years ago, this family-run teahouse continues to serve skewers of sweet rice cake to this day.

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

White beach sands made of the remains of tiny, star shaped creatures.

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

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

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

Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

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

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

A train ride to the middle of nowhere gives its passengers some of the most iconic views of Japan's seasons.

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

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

This retro underwater observation tower would make the perfect lair for a sea-loving villain.

A Japanese corporation has turned this small island town into living modern art gallery.