In 806, Kobo Daishi began meditating on Mount Misen. The Buddhist monk lit this holy fire, which has been kept burning for 1,200 years.

A lone torii arch stands on a coastal rock where a deity is said to have landed.

This is no ordinary coffee chain outlet—it's an architectural masterpiece.

A gorgeous, nostalgic café housed in a lofty old warehouse, lit only by petroleum lamps.

This giant statue pays homage to this temple's furry residents who keep the landscape pristine.

Running through lush forests and across the Tadami River, this train line offers breathtaking views of rural Japan.

Although it has never been a secret ninja base, this shrine still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

A unique Shinto shrine filled with bunnies and wordplay.

Constructed thousands of years ago, these stone circles offer incredible insight into the lives of the people who built them.

The only Edo-period ferry that is still in operation in Tokyo today.

High in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture, a magnificent library designed by a world-famous architect.

What's believed to be the country's first shrine is, in Shintō mythology, the annual meeting place of the gods.

This brothel-turned-restaurant features plenty of surprises and elaborate, extravagant architecture.

Approximately 300 million years ago, a massive coral reef existed in what is now the largest limestone cave in Japan.

Nestled in an unassuming residential area, this "forbidden forest" is rumored to spirit away those who dare enter it.

A mysterious set of tunnels carved in the hills of rural northern Kyushu.

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

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

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

One of Kyoto's oldest food establishments has supplied soba noodles to temple priests and the Imperial Palace.

Thirty architectural gems from the 19th- and early 20th-century Tokyo were restored and relocated to this space.

Legend holds eating just one of these black eggs can add seven years to one's life.

Steaming blood-red hot spring from hell.

This Kyoto Starbucks takes coffee drinkers back in time.