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.

Imagine walking through a forest—only instead of trees, it’s a maze of colossal stone columns, each etched with sacred symbols, each one whispering stories from over 3,000 years ago. That’s the Temple of Karnak, a place where time folds in on itself and the divine still seems just a step away.