Nestled in the mountains just 90 minutes from Tokyo, Hakone has long been a retreat for travelers seeking both quiet and culture. Once a crucial checkpoint on the historic Tōkaidō road between Edo and Kyoto, Hakone is still shaped by centuries of history. The reconstructed Hakone Sekisho (Hakone Checkpoint) offers a glimpse into the Edo Period, when travelers were inspected by samurai guards before continuing on their journey.

Stretching across central Oman, the Wahiba Sands offer a dramatic desert landscape of rolling dunes that shift in color with the changing light. This vast sea of sand is home to towering ridges and open plains, creating an otherworldly backdrop for exploration.

Bansoa is a highland community in Cameroon’s West Region, within the Menoua Department and the municipality of Penka-Michel.

Butre is a small coastal village in Ghana’s Western Region, set around the Butre River near the Atlantic Ocean. Its landscape combines a fishing settlement, forested hills, wetlands, and a broad sandy shoreline. The village is known especially for Fort Batenstein, which stands on a hill overlooking the coast and the surrounding countryside. Fishing remains an important part of local life, while the nearby river creates a sheltered setting for small boats and canoes.

The white limestone bottom of this freshwater lagoon makes the vibrant aquamarine waters look even brighter. This blissful escape is perfect for kayaking or lounging and has smaller crowds than some of the more well-known tourist towns.