Deep within the forests of Tochigi Prefecture lies a place where myth and mystery echo through sacred halls. At first glance, Nikkō Tōshō-gū looks like any other stunning Shinto-Buddhist shrine—gilded, intricate, layered with centuries of craftsmanship. But step inside the Yakushi-dō Hall, look up, and clap your hands just once. The dragon will respond.

In the far northwest of the United Kingdom, where jagged mountains slice through clouds and mists cling like secrets, there’s a place that feels almost too magical to be real. The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye are a string of small, impossibly clear waterfalls and blue-green pools, tucked into the foot of the Black Cuillin mountains.