Imagine standing by a quiet riverbank in rural Japan, the air heavy with the scent of summer grass. The last traces of daylight have slipped away, and for a moment, darkness surrounds you. Then—like magic—tiny green lights begin to flicker in the air. One, two, dozens... dancing in silence.

Tucked within the quiet town of Minamiaso in Kumamoto Prefecture lies a sacred pool of impossibly clear water: Shirakawa Suigen. This isn’t just a pretty pond. It’s the literal birthplace of the Shirakawa River, one of the major water sources for the entire region. What makes it truly special isn’t just the water’s purity—but the sense that you’ve stumbled upon something quietly magical.