The most famous dark site of the country – and a classic one regarding the role of popular media in making dark tourist destinations major attractions – is the Bridge on the River Kwai. Yes, it really exists ... though it looks very different to the fictional bridge in the famous film. And it has become a major sight for mainstream tourism and dark tourism alike. The reason it's dark is that it forms part of the so-called Death Railway, a rail line built by the Japanese during WWII. More precisely: the Japanese had it built, largely by POWs, including many Europeans and other Westerners (most notably Australians), under an incredibly brutal regime that claimed countless lives. There are also several memorial sites/museums on the topic, primarily in the town of Kanchanaburi, where the famous bridge is, but also further afield (at Hellfire Pass).