History & Culture in Japan

A collection of nearly 5,000 yokai-themed toys, sculptures, and more, dating from the 1700s to the present day.

This frenetic mural recalls an annual festival that once took the city by storm.

These statues are dedicated to the damned souls of those executed centuries ago on the beautiful Yuigahama beach.

Home to 800-year-old zen basin, a 400-year-old pilgrim’s path, and a century-old industrial grotto.

This glass-themed tourist park in northern Japan feels like taking a step back in time.

Home to a legend of the supernatural raccoon dog, a rare wooden structure of Edo, and witnesses of the Tokyo bombings.

This one-of-a-kind indie publisher-bookshop specializes in archiving historic red-light districts and niche cultural topics of the Shōwa era.

The preserved ruins of the Hōjō clan’s palatial estate, hidden in the basement of a tourist information center.

The largest example of the “snail well” unique to the Musashino Plateau region.

An eerie cluster of medieval cave-like tombs carved out of a cliff, hidden in a historic mountain pass.

This Spanish theme park stands out in the Japanese countryside.

A hidden alley with seven corners and handmade cat decorations.

The site of a prehistoric settlement spanning millennia, complete with a reconstructed timber circle.

The former site of the U.S. military base redeveloped as an art district, boasting a collection of 109 public artworks from 36 countries.

A collection of nostalgic items from the Showa era with an exhibit on the local ghost story of the Snow Woman.

This “grave” memorializes the 53 rakugo stories that were once banned by the national censorship.