mikemhowe's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Tokyo, Japan

Benten-dō Temple

A Buddhist temple on an artificial island that houses a monument to the fugu fish.
Tokyo, Japan

Akihabara Electric Town

Once a black market electronics marketplace, now an otaku shopper's paradise.
Tokyo, Japan

Godzilla Head

Not quite the menace it once was, this monster still has some chops.
Tokyo, Japan

Omoide Yokocho

Colloquially known as “piss alley,” this narrow street filled with tiny bars and barbecue stands looks like it was pulled straight out of “Blade Runner.”
Tokyo, Japan

Vampire Café

A taste of the macabre Tokyo's ritzy shopping district.
Prague, Czechia

Statue of Franz Kafka

A surreal statue honoring Prague's favorite literary son.
Paris, France

Salvador Dalí Sundial

A surrealist timepiece by the artist of melting clocks.
Tokyo, Japan

Myth of Tomorrow

After being lost for decades, this striking mural depicting the atomic bomb covers the wall of a busy Tokyo metro station.
Dublin, Ireland

John Kavanagh ('The Gravediggers')

This pub built its reputation pouring post-shift pints for employees of the cemetery with which it shares a wall.
Dublin, Ireland

Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum

This is the largest cemetery in Ireland and the first cemetery museum in the world.
Chicago, Illinois

Bubbly Creek

This cheerfully-named branch of the Chicago River is the fetid result of years of blood, entrails, and meatpacking waste.
DeKalb, Illinois

The Egyptian Theatre

This architectural stunner is one of the few surviving Egyptian Revival theaters in the U.S.
Chicago, Illinois

Wicker Park

Once called the "Polish Gold Coast" it is an icon of the neighborhood that bears its same name.
Chicago, Illinois

Flat Iron Building

Not to be confused with the iconic New York City skyscraper, this Chicago building is a vibrant hub for artists.
Chicago, Illinois

Couch Tomb

No one knows how many bodies are in this vault in a Chicago public park.
Chicago, Illinois

Essanay Studios

This landmark of the Chicago silent film industry may not be in the picture business anymore but it still stands proudly.
Addison, Illinois

Nike Park

Cold War missile launch site which has been converted to a public park.
Niles, Illinois

Leaning Tower of Niles

Half-sized replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa built to honor Galileo.
Midlothian, Illinois

Bachelor's Grove Cemetery

A small abandoned and abused cemetery that has become a magnet for ghost hunters.
Chicago, Illinois

Confederate Mound

The final resting place of up to 6,000 Confederate soldiers, the largest mass grave in the Western Hemisphere.
Chicago, Illinois

DANK Haus German American Cultural Center

You can take a class, browse the library, or visit the lavish lair of an international men's humor society.
Chicago, Illinois

Haymarket Square

Home to a protest movement, a bombing, and a dramatic change in labor history.
Chicago, Illinois

The 606 aka Bloomingdale Trail

The 606 is a decade in the making.
Springfield, Illinois

Lincoln Tomb

When you visit his grave, be sure to rub the Great Emancipator's nose for good luck.