Kanazawa Station, Kanazawa

One of the grandest train stations in the world is the Kanazawa station in Japan. The enormous "drum gate," whose legs resemble tsuzumi drums, and the enormous dome are its most notable features. The main train station in Kanazawa is a fascinating blend of the present and the future.

A sizable traditional wooden torii gate, similar to those found outside Japanese shrines, is in front of it, and the Motenashi Dome, a sparkling structure made of glass and aluminum, covers the station's entrance. Every last detail has been carefully considered, down to the glittering platform columns that are adorned with gold leaf, one of Kanazawa's most well-known exports.

When Kanazawa's circa 1898 station was upgraded in 2005, there were mixed reactions. Many people found the addition of the ultramodern glass and steel dome and enormous drum-shaped wood gate to be out of place. However, tourists continue to swarm to the dramatic additions to the Ishikawa, Japan station, and the new buildings' allure easily competes with the other attractions in the historic town, such as a geisha district and former samurai quarters.