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.

Deep within the forests of Tochigi Prefecture lies a place where myth and mystery echo through sacred halls. At first glance, Nikkō Tōshō-gū looks like any other stunning Shinto-Buddhist shrine—gilded, intricate, layered with centuries of craftsmanship. But step inside the Yakushi-dō Hall, look up, and clap your hands just once. The dragon will respond.