My brother Nick is is in Japan, and he has posted some interesting pictures from his travels. I'll share a couple.
This is a water pagoda, and I want one.
What's it for? I wish I knew. Do you boat over to it and then hang out and drink tea?
Here is the ferry that took him to to the island with the water pagoda.
It looks like a ferry designed by a Japanese tour-operator who wanted his European guests to feel right at home, and also was insane.
Well, pagodas are generally used to house Buddhist relics. I imagine that a few of the more devout or spiritual Japanese in the area take small boats out to the pagoda to make offerings, pray for the Enlightenment of the deceased, meditate, or pray for help through some personal crisis.
It also makes for a striking photo, which undoubtedly goes over well with the tourists.
The ferry, on the other hand, is inexcusable:) A purely musical cover of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" was playing in the cabin!