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.

There’s something about seeing a man hanging upside down from a pole that immediately grabs your attention — especially when that man is spinning around 20 meters above the ground with nothing but a rope tied to his ankle. Welcome to Palo Volteado, one of Mexico’s most breathtaking and little-known traditional dances.