fionatolsta's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Osaka, Japan

Chapel Goedele

A 14th-century European chapel sticks out of the facade of a Japanese hotel.
Nara, Japan

Buddha's Nostril

Devoted Buddhists can earn enlightenment in the next life by crawling through this symbolic nostril.
Kyoto, Japan

Yasui Kompira-gu Shrine

Crawl through the hole in the middle of this stone to break off a bad relationship or initiate a good one.
Taketomi, Japan

The Star Sands of Hoshizuna-no-hama

White beach sands made of the remains of tiny, star shaped creatures.
Tokyo, Japan

Sengaku-Ji

This Buddhist temple is home to the graves of the Japanese national legends, the 47 Ronin.
Kyoto, Japan

Ryōan-ji

The quintessential Japanese rock garden has existed for more than 500 years.
Kyoto, Japan

Sanjūsangen-dō

1,001 carved statues of the Buddhist God of Mercy, each with a unique face.
Kyoto, Japan

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

The 10,000 Torii shrine.
Nara, Japan

Tōdai-ji Daibutsuden (The Great Buddha Hall)

This massive wooden building contains a giant Buddha, healing pillars, and tame deer wandering the grounds.
Dunbar, Scotland

Belhaven Bridge

At high tide this strange footbridge appears to have no purpose whatsoever.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh

One of the oldest scientific gardens in Britain, containing more than 13,302 plant species in its core collection.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Robert Burns' Masonic Apron

The beloved bard's garb is proudly displayed within a Freemason's hall.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh Castle Dog Cemetery

The final resting place of soldiers' loyal canine companions.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Mons Meg

A six-ton wedding present for the King of the Scots.
Edinburgh, Scotland

The Witches' Well

The fountain marks the area where hundreds of accused witches were burned at the stake.
Scottish Borders, Scotland

The Bear Gates of Traquair

The main gates have been locked since 1745 and will remain so until the Stuart Dynasty returns to the throne.
Grangemouth, Scotland

The Kelpies

The heads of two giant mythological water horses honor Scotland's horselord past.
Wilkieston, Scotland

Jupiter Artland

Large-scale contemporary artworks tower over fields and lurk in forests around a Jacobean manor house.
Roslin, Scotland

Rosslyn Chapel

A church that bred legends, and served as an inspiration for the Da Vinci Code.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Cramond Ghost Island

Accessible only at low tide, the deserted island is dotted with World War II ruins.
Edinburgh, Scotland

General Register Building of the National Archives of Scotland

Every birth, death, and marriage is recorded in these color-coded leather-bound books.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Mary King's Close

17th century streets hidden under Edinburgh were once a breeding ground for the black death.
Edinburgh, Scotland

'Center of Edinburgh' Bollard

This mundane post marks the old location of the city's main postal hub.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Museum of Childhood

The world’s first museum dedicated to the history of childhood opened in Edinburgh in 1955.