Imagine a place where kings and queens once walked, prisoners whispered their last words, and priceless treasures glitter behind iron bars. Welcome to the Tower of London — an ancient fortress with stories that span over a millennium. Perched right on the north bank of the River Thames, this iconic landmark is much more than just a pile of stones. It’s a symbol of power, mystery, and sometimes, downright chilling history.

In the heart of Nagano, where winter drapes the land in quiet white, lies a lake that carries a divine footprint—or at least, that’s what generations of believers have whispered. Every January or February, when the surface of Lake Suwa freezes just right, something extraordinary happens. Great cracks zigzag across the ice, rising like a frozen wave from shore to shore.