Japan, the land of the Rising Sun. There are so many interesting places to see in the land of the Samurai. Aside from the temples, however, there are other places that you can visit that reflect the curious and quirky thing that Japanese culture could be.
Here are four tourist spots in Japan that are unusual in nature but are also definitely worth a visit.
Jesus’ Gravesite
Yes, you are reading the name of the place site. You see, they have a legend in Japan that Jesus Christ actually substituted himself with his brother during the crucifixion and escaped to the Far East to the island of Japan. There, he lived for more than 100 years. Today, the Japanese think that the Sawaguchi – whose family crest is curiously similar to the Star of David – are the descendants of Jesus Christ.
While that cannot be verified at all, the Japanese do honor their Jesus Christ with annual matsuris or festivals. They also have a Cross that serves as their shrine to Jesus Christ. It’s quite lively and should be part of your itinerary to Japan if you’re willing to travel to Aomori from Tokyo.
Tashirojima
Tashirojima will require you to cross the sea but you’re in for a treat after the journey. The island is home to large populations of stray cats. These cats thrive in the island because of a local belief that they bring good luck and fortune. Anyone who visits and feeds the strays can expect to receive good fortune in their lives. As a result, the cats outnumber the humans living in the island and effectively make the island closed to dogs. There is even a cat shrine there, where a cat killed by a stray rock during the Edo era is entombed.
Jigokudani
Anyone who knows a little Japanese might probably feel apprehensive of the word “Jigoku” in its name, as it is Japanese for “hell.” That’s nothing to worry about, however, because it’s only called that because of its hot springs. In here, you enjoy not only hot springs but also wild Japanese macaques that come down from the forest during winter days to enjoy the warmth of the springs and fight off the cold. Some say you could approach and take a picture of them, but caution should always be exercised around these primates because they are still wild and not domesticated.
Jigokudani is located within the Joshinetsu Kogen National Park in Nagano, Prefecture.
Parasite Museum
While it may seem weird that someone will want to create a museum dedicated to parasites, there is actually one of those in Tokyo’s Meguro district. Despite the weirdness – nobody discusses parasites except for the scientists dedicated to these creatures – the experience is educational and could open your eyes to a wholly different world. This is the only one of its kind in the world, so you should definitely add this to the list.
Japan may be known for its technological advances in the past century, but you can appreciate the country more if you look beyond what is popular including these four places in the list. Create a new travelling experience for yourself by visiting one of two of these spots the next time you visit Japan.