Uncrowded Japan

More than 300 years old, Kyoto's historic "teahouse" still operates as an invitation-only geisha club.

Nestled amid the trees lies an abandoned funicular railway that dates back to the 1920s.

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

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

Narrow passes cut out of mountains surround the medieval capital of Japan.

The birthplace of Japanese coinage.

This quirky little private museum is home to more than a thousand stones, carved by nature, that resemble human faces.

This ancient burial site was once thought to be the home of a race distinctive to Ainu folklore.

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

These tiny pine-covered islands have inspired art and poetry for centuries.