At the edge of the Sea of Japan, where waves kiss a turquoise shoreline and a sweeping bridge links the mainland to a quiet island, something strange happens when the nights are just cold enough. From the ocean's surface, columns of light rise into the sky—silent, vertical beams that look like gateways to another dimension.

There are cathedrals... and then there’s Durham Cathedral. Built nearly a thousand years ago atop a rocky bluff overlooking the River Wear, this towering Norman masterpiece doesn’t just dominate the landscape—it commands your imagination. With its massive stone pillars, soaring ribbed vaults, and stories echoing through every corridor, it’s no wonder UNESCO called it one of the greatest monuments of European architecture.