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.

If you imagine a French town where life moves to the rhythm of fountains, sun-drenched plazas, and daily markets that smell like lavender and ripe melons—you're imagining Aix-en-Provence. This southern gem, often simply called “Aix,” feels like a living postcard: elegant but relaxed, historic yet constantly alive with art and conversation.