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Japan has quite a few man made wonders that rank as world-class. The Todaiji in Nara is the world's largest wooden structure and is quite magnificent with its 53 foot high statue of Buddha. Himeji Castle is also spectacular, though it is surrounded by a less-than-attractive modern city. The graveyard on Mount Koya in Wakayama where Kukai is buried is quite awe-inspiring for both its size and beauty (but don't go after dark). Some of The Kofun (ancient burial mounds) scattered throughout Nara prefecture are massive, the largest of them is actually bigger than the Pyramid of Giza near Cairo. Kyoto is surrounded by temples, shrines and imperial villas that are simply magnificent.
The list goes on and on. Quite impressive for a country where everything used to be made of wood and thus only rarely survived the tests of time.
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