meerkittie's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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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.
Asahikawa, Japan

Kamuy Kotan

A natural wonder with mythological ties to the local Ainu tradition.
Tokyo, Japan

Shibamata Taishakuten's Sculpture Gallery

A hidden gallery exhibits intricate, decades-old Buddhist reliefs.
Tokamachi, Japan

Kiyotsu Gorge 'Tunnel of Light'

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

Kadokawa Musashino Museum

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

Stone Monuments of Hibiya Park

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

Koguma

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

Usuki Stone Buddhas

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

Usami Kannon-ji

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

Miyamoto-Unosuke Drum Museum

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

Eye-Eating Demon of Inari Kio

Only recently added to the shrine, this googly-eyed snail demon of unknown origin is said to have eye-healing powers.
Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo Camii & Turkish Culture Center

Tatar Russian in origin, the largest mosque in Japan is now an Ottoman-style Turkish culture center.
Tsu, Japan

Japon Louvre Sculpture Museum

A lesser-known sister to Paris's world-famous museum, located within a Buddhist sculpture paradise.
Ichinoseki, Japan

Genbikei Gorge

A stretch of the Iwai River that features beautiful rocky cliffs, rapids, and flying dango.
Tokyo, Japan

Sumida Hokusai Museum

A small museum in a ward on the east side of Tokyo showcases the works of one of Japan's greatest ukiyo-e artists.
Matsumoto, Japan

Nawate Dori

This small Japanese street is lined with figures, sculptures and a shrine dedicated to frogs.
Tokyo, Japan

Kissa Laundry

Run a wash cycle while sipping a latte at this community-oriented café.
Kamikatsu, Japan

Zero-Waste Hotel WHY

In a rural Japanese town that has committed to sustainable practices, even the hotel is made from recycled materials.
Osaka, Japan

Sakura no Tōrinuke

Every spring, this walkway outside the Japan Mint turns into a cherry blossom tunnel.
Naha, Japan

Shuri Castle

The seat of the lost Ryukyu Kingdom has survived numerous fires and wars over the centuries.
Utsunomiya, Japan

Nagaoka Hyakuana Burial Mound

This ancient burial cave along a roadside is also home to several Buddhist sculptures.
Iwakuni, Japan

Iwakuni Shirohebi Shrine

A shrine dedicated to the sacred white snakes of Iwakuni, whose albinism has been passed down for generations.