Imagine walking through an ancient forest so untouched by time that even the soil seems to rise and fall beneath your feet—as if the Earth itself were breathing. Welcome to Shirakami-Sanchi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Japan, home to one of the last remaining virgin beech forests in East Asia... and possibly the most subtly mystical landscape in the entire country.

There’s a moment when you step into the main hall of the Musée d'Orsay where you stop walking. Maybe it’s the golden light filtering through the arched glass ceiling. Maybe it’s the towering clock at the far end, still keeping time over what was once a bustling train station. Or maybe — most likely — it’s the realization that you’ve just entered one of the most beautiful museums in the world.