melcafe's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Sado, Japan

Sado Kinzan

For centuries, this gold mine was the powerhouse behind the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Ogasawara, Japan

Nishinoshima

This volcanic island in the Pacific just keeps growing and growing.
Nachikatsuura-chō, Japan

Fudarakusan-ji

A temple made famous by Japanese Buddhist monks who sacrificed themselves at sea.
Nikko, Japan

'Imaginary Elephants'

These sculptures were created by a 17th-century artist who had never seen an elephant.
Tokyo, Japan

Takagi Shrine

Rice balls symbolize fate and relationship at this adorable shrine, which was once dedicated to the Buddhist Devil.
Yamanouchi, Japan

Yudanaka Onsen Pudding Honpo

This 24-hour vending machine serves up homemade treats inspired by the local Japanese snow monkeys.
Tsugaru, Japan

Kizukuri Station

A train station decorated by a giant replica of the ancient Shakōki-dogū figurine found in the area.
Kyoto, Japan

Rokudō Chin’nōji Temple

It is believed that this Buddhist temple stands right on the gateway to the underworld.
Osaka, Japan

Radium Onsen

This bathhouse includes an option to soak in radioactive water.
Tokamachi, Japan

Kiyotsu Gorge 'Tunnel of Light'

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

Stone Monuments of Hibiya Park

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

Zenigata Sunae

This massive, Edo Period, coin-shaped sand painting is believed to be a source of great luck.
Ashikaga, Japan

Ashikaga School

The oldest academic institution in Japan provides a glimpse of university life during the days of the samurai.
Utsunomiya, Japan

The Venus of Gyoza

At a Japanese train station, a goddess emerges from a dumpling.
Tokyo, Japan

Hōdō Inari Shrine

A lonely chimpanzee lures you into a narrow alley leading to this hidden shrine.
Kawasaki, Japan

Kawaramachi Housing Complex

This Metabolist, retro-futuristic residential complex resembles a cyberpunk space colony established on Earth.
Sakawa, Japan

Uemachi Station

Though it won't take you far, the wood train housed at this station is the last of its kind in Japan.
Utsunomiya, Japan

Nagaoka Hyakuana Burial Mound

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

Roppongi Hills Street Furniture

This quirky collection of furniture also happens to be a public art installation.
Asuka-mura, Japan

Takamatsuzuka Tumulus

This frescoed ancient burial mound is a colorful window into China’s influence in early Japan.
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.
Sado, Japan

Aikawa Prison

A wooden prison doesn't sound like a good idea, yet this abandoned 1950s detention center still stands today.
Tokyo, Japan

Milonga Nueva

This retro café is a remnant of Japan’s post-war Argentine tango craze.
Minakami, Japan

Doai Train Station

Would you spend the night in Japan's deepest train station?