Lighting the mists

Besides the bright ball in the sky, our daybreak scene in Japan has a second star: the magnificent Takachiho Gorge. Though the misty expanse shown here is inspiring, this river-carved marvel on Kyushu island is even better up close. By renting a rowboat, you can float down the Gokase River right along the gorge's sheer basalt walls. As part of the journey, you'll get a quick cool-down in the spray of Minainotaki, a 55-foot waterfall that plunges straight into the Gokase.