Ōwakudani Valley, Hakone, Japan
Located in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Owakudani translates to “the Great Boiling Valley,” though some locals lovingly refer to it as Jigokudani, meaning “Hell Valley.” Once you visit, you kind of see their point. Owakudani is a volcanic basin created some 3,000 odd years ago after the eruption of Mount Hakone. The resulting crater and subsequent landslides opened up a series of hot springs and sulfur vents that give the entire area a distinctive Dante-ish appearance… and smell.
