There are beach towns, and then there’s Saint-Tropez—a glittering speck on the map of southern France that somehow manages to be both an A-list playground and a charming Mediterranean village at the same time. It’s the kind of place where you can sip rosé on a mega-yacht next to Leonardo DiCaprio—or stumble upon a quiet boulangerie tucked into a pastel alleyway.

Japan might be the land of cherry blossoms, neon cities, and serene temples—but tucked away between the islands of Shikoku and Awaji lies one of its most mysterious natural wonders: the Naruto Whirlpools. These aren’t just cute little eddies. We’re talking about giant oceanic whirlpools, some as wide as 20 meters, forming like clockwork beneath the dramatic span of the Ōnaruto Bridge.