Beverly PaoAlways wanted to roam around Japan and shoot amazing hipster-looking photos? You’re in for a treat. I’ll share with you my top nine instagrammable places in Japan that every wannabe-hipster must visit.
Also read: 7 Secret Towns in Japan You Probably Didn’t Know About
1. Shiba-sakura Festival
What is this, you may ask. This is Japan’s “moss phlox” festival, and the pastel pink that seemingly stretches all the way to Mount Fuji makes for a perfect Instagram shot. After all, what screams Japan as much as its famed Mount Fuji? Add that touch of pink and you’ve got a breathtaking shot. Season: April to May How to get there: Take a train to “Kawaguchi”
2. Sunflower Madness
What seemingly looks like a fake backdrop is an actual place in Japan. Instead of lying in a bed of roses, you could walk through rows and rows of sunflowers, and drown yourself in happy yellow stalks whilst taking selfies after selfies. Your instagram photo is guaranteed to look gorgeous from any angle.
Season: July to August
How to get there: Take a 20 min cab from Niraseki station (JR)
3. Shimanami Kaido
This is an expressway that connects Onomichi, Hiroshima and Imabari, whilst going through nine of the Geiyo Islands. It contains 10 bridges, so you can cherry pick the ones that makes the best hipster picture! If you have the time, do cycle and experience the Shimanami Kaido. You’d be able to enjoy the gorgeous scenery of the Seto Inland Sea and the island’s small towns. After all, how could the picture be complete without a bicycle in it? Season: All year round (cycling in winter though, might not be recommended) How to get there: Train to Imabari Station or Onomichi Station
4. Yakushima, Kyushu
A fan of nature photos? Now you can take hipster photos…in the forest! Yakushima (屋久島) is an island off the southern coast of Kyushu and is a part of Kagoshima Prefecture. This area showcases a cedar forest that hosts some of Japan’s oldest living trees. Be sure to take away only pictures from this area as this forest is one of Japan’s Natural World Heritage Sites. Yakushima is also the inspiration behind the forest of Dremuchij featured in the game Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
Season: All year round (It rains frequently though, so do bring along your umbrella)
How to get there: High speed boat from Kagoshima or Ibusuki
5. Aso Volcano Museum (Kumamoto Prefecture)
Mount Aso is an active volcano located in Japan. What else spells cool than taking a picture in front of an active volcano? Inside the museum, you can also get to know more about Japan’s volcanoes, as well as explore exhibitions which will give you insights to the volcano crater. Season: All year round How to get there: Take a bus from Aso station
6. Sapporo Snow Festival
What else screams photo opportunity than numerous snow sculptures of various characters? Sapporo’s yearly event, the Snow Festival, is a highly attended event. With competitors hailing from all over the world, Sapporo Snow Festival is where you can appreciate art sculptures featuring characters ranging from Darth Vador(s) to even those from Frozen. The sculptures also come in the form of ice, which participants chisel away painstakingly to form a piece of wondrous art.
Season: February
How to get there: Take the Namboku Line, Tozai Line or Toho Line to Odori to access the Odori Site
7. Nikko (Ryuzu Waterfall, Lake Chuzenji)
Famed for Toshogu, Japan’s most decorated shrine and the mausoleum of Tokgugawa Leysau, Nikko National park also offers great scenic views and inviting onsens. Wherever you turn, there will be a photo opportunity. Furthermore, you’d be able to take a photo with the original “See no evil, Speak no evil and Talk to evil” monkeys instead of just merely posting emojis!
Upon walking out of the train station, you will be wowed by the gorgeous scenery that Nikko has to offer.
Season: All year round (It is recommended to visit autumn when the natural landscape is extra gorgeous)
How to get there: Take the train to Tobu Asakusa Station
8. Paddy Art Festival
The Japanese are amazing. By making paddy art, they revitalized tourism in Inakadate, a small village in Aomori at the north end of the Honshu mainland of Japan. Artists have recreated classic art pieces such as The Mona Lisa and even portraits of Marilyn Monroe on paddy fields. A designated observation deck at the top of the town hall allows you to appreciate and gaze over these carefully crafted fields, which could only be realized by planting and reaping rice manually. Season: June to September How to get there: Take the train to Tanbo Art station
9. Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple
If you are taking the time to stop by Arashiyama bamboo forest, do take the time to visit the Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple as well. The small statues are remembrance of the death of the loved ones during the Heian Period. Nenbutsuji was founded to collect these statues together. Every year, a candle is lit in a ceremony known as Sento Kuyo, which is dedicated to the souls of the dead. Other than the beautiful collection of statues, Adashino Nenbutsuji is also known for its autumn colors.
Season: All year round
How to get there: Take a train to Saga-Arashiyama Station
Also read: 21 Reasons Why Travelling to Japan is a Complete Waste of Time
If you’re an active instagrammer, you’d definitely enjoy visiting these places! If you have any suggestions to add to this list, do feel free to mention them in the comments section below!
