Constant rain instead of "quietly falling snow", floods instead of a white Christmas - the capricious climate in Germany does not stop at religious festivals.
The cult hike to Preikestolen near Stavanger in Norway offers fantastic views of the Lysefjord with a final test of courage over the 600 meter high abyss of the cliff.
The Red Torii of Itsukushima Shrine in front of Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture is world famous. You can walk out to it at low tide, and ships pass through the torii at high tide to reach the Shinto monastery of Itsukushima Shrine.