Devoted Buddhists can earn enlightenment in the next life by crawling through this symbolic nostril.

The first location of the eventual video game giant.

Hidden by the roadside in the Iya Valley, this gem brings together folk monsters and the region's unique geography.

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

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

Ever needed a chocolate-filled crepe in the wee hours of the morning?

The largest collection of model trains in the world is actually run using full-size locomotive technology.

This high-design church is made up of two dizzying spirals meant to evoke the weaving together of marriage.

A small Japanese village claims to be the final resting place of the son of God (and God's other son's ear).

An anthropological theme park that depicts the cultures of around 20 different countries.

A 59-ft. robot statue looks over the citizens of earthquake-ravaged Kobe.

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

A quaint amusement park now sits, rusting and forgotten among the foliage.

This museum showcases the art of ancient sword-making.

This 400-year-old sweet shop serves a delicacy some have described as "edible incense."

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

An abandoned Art Deco hotel nestled on the side of a wooded mountain.

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

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

Existing for more than four centuries, the last of Hakone’s historic teahouses serves a sweet, mold-based rice drink.

Sidle into a side alley for a taste of sumo wrestlers' traditional hot-pot soup, in a tiny restaurant founded by a former competitor.

A sobering scientific reminder of the human damage caused by the advent of the nuclear age.

Elaborate series of tunnels where traces of mass suicide are still visible.

The Buddhist temples of Yamadera, built into a mountain side, feature a viewing deck with sweeping views.