Even if you’ve never heard of Alnwick Castle, chances are you’ve *seen* it. Maybe it was while watching Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, as first-year wizards learned to fly broomsticks on the lawn. Or perhaps in *Downton Abbey*, *Transformers: The Last Knight*, or even *Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves*. This castle is no stranger to the camera — and once you see it in person, you’ll understand why.

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.