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.

There are places in the world that don’t just show you nature—they tell you stories. And then there’s Lake Mashū, a mystical caldera lake nestled in the mountains of Hokkaido, Japan. Known for its mirror-like waters and often shrouded in fog, Mashū is mysterious on any given day. But once a year, it unveils something truly otherworldly: the Dragon Eye.