Sometimes the hardest part of traveling is deciding what to skip, and man, Nachi Falls was a tough one to cut. The thought of Japan's tallest waterfall (133 meters!) with that iconic three-story pagoda in front of it had us seriously tempted to commit to that marathon train journey from Osaka. But seven to eight hours of travel for what would essentially be a day trip? Even our FOMO has limits!

It's not just any waterfall either - this is one of those perfect combinations of natural and human-made beauty that Japan does so well. The fact that it's considered sacred and has been worshipped for centuries (they literally believe a Shinto deity lives there) makes it even more special.