#Japanuary 2025

Japanuary is my photo challenge about Japan, in January.

Previously it was just on Instagram, but this year you can join in on any platform (this is the 4th time!). Everyone’s welcome to join in – post your photos and share what you love about Japan!

How to Join In

Each day there’s a theme related to Japan.
Post a photo related to that day’s theme.
Use the hashtag #Japanuary25D1 (change the number at the end each day – so the 1st is #Japanuary25D1, the 2nd is #Japanuary25D2, etc).

Enjoy looking through the hashtag at everyone’s photos, sharing tips and happy memories. It’s also a great way to get ideas for your next Japan trip!

This year, Japanuary’s across all social platforms, not just Instagram:

Japanuary Themes

Here are the themes for each day. Feel free to save this image and share it with your posts. If you want to tag me, I’m @cakeswithfaces most places.

Japanuary Video

Here’s a quick video explaining how it works!

Fourth Time for Japanuary

This is the fourth time I’ve run Japanuary. I’ve been blown away at how many people have joined in, and I genuinely enjoy looking through all your photos each day – and even more, reading your stories and memories from Japan.

It really brightens up January, which can sometimes be a dreary month with not much going on!

FAQs

What if I don’t have any new photos?

Your photos don’t have to be new or recent – everyone will enjoy seeing them! It’s all about happy memories and sharing what we enjoy about Japan, so it doesn’t matter if they’re not from this year or last year. It’s also fine to post photos you’ve shared before, if they’re relevant to the theme for that day.

Do I have to post every day?

Feel free to join in as often as you like. Post every day, or when you have time, or when you’re inspired by that day’s theme. Japanuary’s a chill, easy-going challenge. It’s just for fun, it’s not about getting stressed out. Posting every day can be a lot, so join in whenever you feel like it.

What if I haven’t been to Japan?

If you haven’t been to Japan, feel free to post Japan-related pics from home. For example books, your Japlanning notes, Japan-related days out, hobbies or activities in your country, and the food themes are easy to join in with. Or share places you’d like to go (but please be mindful of copyright!). It’s also fine to post Japan-related artwork, sketches or doodles.

Looking through the hashtag’s a great way to get ideas if you’re dreaming of going to Japan one day.

Here’s a selection of your snacks from last year!

Inspiration for the Themes

Finally, here’s some inspiration for each of the themes, to give you some ideas. Feel free to interpret them however you like – anything related to Japan is good! I’m looking forward to seeing what you post!

Why I love Japan: Introduce yourself and tell us what draws you to Japan. What first made you fall in love with it? Do you have any hobbies or specific interests related to Japan?
Hotel recommendations: Recommend a hotel you’ve stayed in, to help other people find a place to stay. It can be anywhere in Japan.
What a view: Any view from around Japan – it can be in the city, countryside, and any prefecture.
Food tips: Share a piece of advice related to food, for someone going to Japan. What should they know, what’s unexpected or what should they not miss?
Fav shop: What’s your favourite shop in Japan? It can be a chain or independent, and any kind of shop – anything goes!
Best evening: Let’s reminisce about a lovely evening from your trip. It could be a relaxing time in an onsen, a fantastic meal, a night out or just walking around, exploring.
Books about Japan: Post a photo of you favourite book related to Japan. It could be fiction or non-fiction, a guide book, a language study guide, phrase book, or a Japanese novel.
On a budget: Share a tip about saving money while travelling in Japan, or a time when you got a bargain or got great value somewhere.
Fav drink: It could be alcoholic or non-alcoholic, hot or cold, at a cafe or from a vending machine.
Hidden spots: Show us an off-the-beaten track, hidden gem! Large or small: it could be a shop, a special spot, viewpoint, unknown district or a whole city or region that many people don’t know about.
Planning tips: How do you plan your trip? Do you have a tip for researching or putting together your itinerary, or how you get your plans sorted before you travel?
Happy memories: This could be anything! A moment or a whole day trip. I’m sure there are too many to choose from, but pick one to show us and share your happy memories.
Souvenirs: Something you bought in Japan: maybe a traditional souvenir, Japanese crafts, traditional omiyage or something more unconventional like merchandise of your favourite character, or your haul of Japanese sweets!
What surprised you about Japan? Tell us what you found unexpected when you first went to Japan, or something you always forget about until you go back.
Train/travel tips: Let’s share tips for taking the train, getting tickets or any sort of transport for travelling around, either locally or cross country.
Recommend a restaurant/cafe: Where’s your favourite? It can be anywhere in Japan, and a fancy or an everyday, budget-friendly place.
Underrated: What’s a hidden gem that doesn’t get the credit it deserves? It could be large or small: a place, a food, activity, attraction or something to do.
Architecture: old vs new: Post a building or architecture that’s historic, modern, or a photo with both! There’s so much interesting architecture in Japan! Architecture includes things like bridges and tours as well as buildings.
Kawaii: Show us something cute! It could be a character, a sign, merchandise, an animal – anything!
Money-related tips: Share a tip for managing your budget and saving money during your trip. How can you keep costs down or where can you get a bargain?
Konbini Time: We all love the convenience store! What’s your go-to konbini order, or something you always have to get? Or post a photo of a convenience store itself.
Exploring: Another very general theme. Exploring’s one of the fun things about going somewhere new. Show us when you explored an area, a place, a prefecture or a city in Japan.
Something fun (make us smile!): This could be something fun that you did, or a fun thing: something silly that can’t help but make you smile! I’m looking forward to seeing what you pick!
Greenery: Time for some nature: the countryside, a park (even in the city!), a Japanese garden, somewhere with plants: any kind of greenery.
Must-try snacks: What’s your go-to snack in Japan (or a Japanese snack that you buy in your country)? Show us what we should try next time!
Worth the hype: somewhere popular: Popular and touristy doesn’t always mean over-rated. Some places are worth the hype. Tell us about somewhere that everyone goes, that you think genuinely deserves to be so popular.
Tokyo: Anything or anywhere in Tokyo! Choose anything you like, as long as it’s in Tokyo.
Off the Golden Route: Not everyone will have something for this theme, but I wanted to include Japan beyond the Golden Route of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. They’re the most popular places to go, but there’s so much more to Japan, and so many amazing places that fewer visitors travel to. Pick somewhere to show us!
Streets & Alleyways: Japanese streets can be so picturesque and full of details. This could be a charming back alley, or a bustling street in the city: any kind of road or street scene.
What you miss most: When you think of Japan, what do you miss the most? It could be large or small, a place or a thing (no one’s judging you for missing ramen here!).
To-visit list: Where do you want to go next in Japan? Share the top place on your Japan travel wishlist (I know mine’s never-ending!!).

Help with Planning Your Trip

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