meerkittie's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Kawagoe, Japan

Five Hundred Arhats

Hundreds of statues of Buddha’s disciples meditating, napping, sneezing, and picking their noses.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Yoichi, Japan

Fugoppe Cave Petroglyphs

One of the only two archaeological sites in Japan to feature petroglyphs, which some believe to be a long-lost writing system of the gods.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Otaru, Japan

Kitaichi Hall

A gorgeous, nostalgic café housed in a lofty old warehouse, lit only by petroleum lamps.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Fukuoka, Japan

Tomb of the Wet Kimono

The birthplace of the Japanese idiom "wet clothes" meaning “false accusation."
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Hatsukaichi, Japan

Kiezu-no-hi (The Eternal Flame)

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.
nicolab Added by nicolab
Tokyo, Japan

Takagi Shrine

Rice balls symbolize fate and relationship at this adorable shrine, which was once dedicated to the Buddhist Devil.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Kyoto, Japan

Hosotsuji Ihee Museum

A strip of traditional hand towel serves as an admission ticket at this modern tenugui museum.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Toyohashi, Japan

Mount Ishimaki

A long-worshipped mountain, considered a "power spot" and suspected to be an ancient pyramid by some.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Fukuoka, Japan

Golden Frog of Hakata Station

It is rumored that if you spot this little golden frog hiding in plain sight, good luck will come your way.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Dazaifu, Japan

Starbucks Dazaifu Tenmangu Omote-Sando

This is no ordinary coffee chain outlet—it's an architectural masterpiece.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Shiroishi, Japan

Shinseki Shiroishi (God Stone of Shiroishi)

A town's namesake rock has served as a spiritual matchmaker for hundreds of years.
mikewalker Added by mikewalker
Fukuoka, Japan

Japan’s First Tea Tree

In the oldest zen temple stands a descendant of the very tree that introduced tea to Japanese culture.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Aki, Japan

Ioki Cave

Over 40 species of fern cover the canyon walls of this lush green bowl, cut off from the bustle of the world by a cave entrance.
ChiaraT Added by ChiaraT
Asahikawa, Japan

Kamuy Kotan

A natural wonder with mythological ties to the local Ainu tradition.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Tokyo, Japan

Shibamata Taishakuten's Sculpture Gallery

A hidden gallery exhibits intricate, decades-old Buddhist reliefs.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Tokamachi, Japan

Kiyotsu Gorge 'Tunnel of Light'

There's light and a dreamlike panorama at the end of this tunnel.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Tokorozawa, Japan

Kadokawa Musashino Museum

This airy five-floor library and museum houses thousands of books and rotating exhibits on Japanese monsters and anime.
jojoebi Added by jojoebi
Tokyo, Japan

Stone Monuments of Hibiya Park

This park boasts a unusual collection of curious monuments from around the world, from Micronesia to Antarctica.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Tokyo, Japan

Koguma

This cozy café is housed in a repurposed pharmacy originally built in 1927.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Usuki, Japan

Usuki Stone Buddhas

These medieval stone-cut Buddhist statues may protect visitors from being fired.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Itō, Japan

Usami Kannon-ji

The largest seated Buddha statue in Japan is the centerpiece of an abandoned complex in a quiet, seaside town.
Shin Kiryu Added by Shin Kiryu
Tokyo, Japan

Miyamoto-Unosuke Drum Museum

Home to a collection of drums from around the world that allow visitors to play a tune.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Tokyo, Japan

Asakusa Underground Street

Stuck in a bygone era, the oldest subterranean shopping street in Japan hides beneath the popular Asakusa district of Tokyo.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Yonezawa, Japan

The Fountain of Ideas

Ward off bad luck and fill your bottle with "the most watery water" at this little roadside shrine in Yonezawa.
ChiaraT Added by ChiaraT