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.

Imagine a place where the Earth hisses, belches sulfur, and constantly exhales white plumes of steam into the sky. A place where black eggs are boiled in volcanic springs and eaten to gain extra years of life. Welcome to Owakudani—one of Japan’s most unusual and naturally hostile locations, and one that feels like it sits right at the edge of the spirit world.