In most places, corn is just food. But in Mexico, especially among its Indigenous communities, corn—or maíz—is life, ancestry, memory, and god. Welcome to the Sacred Corn Festivals, where ancient traditions still sing the praises of the golden grain.
You don’t just arrive at the Zone of Silence. You’re led there—by curiosity, by rumor, or by something stranger. The last gas station fades behind you. The road turns to dirt. Your phone goes silent. Then, somewhere between the dust and the heat haze, you realize you’ve entered a place that doesn’t care much for the laws of physics.
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.