Top 10 Readers’ Photos: February in Japan

Every month, we’re selecting our favorite travel images from readers. Tag your photo on Instagram or Twitter with #GaijinPotTravel for a chance to be featured on our site.

1) For the love of the hike in Otome Valley, Gifu.

Such blue water! I think I found a new favourite place #japan #wanderlust #japanoutdoors #japanadventures #japanadventure #gaijinpot #gaijinpottravel #matcha #mountains #hike #outdoors #winter #unknownjapan #waterfalls #waterfallscollective #chasingwaterfalls

A post shared by James Thurland (@thurlandjames) on Jan 19, 2018 at 7:33pm PST

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2) Gettin’ freaky in Kurashiki, Okayama.

When you meet weird cosplayers in the old district of #kurashiki! Do you know who/what they are supposed to look like? . . . #cosplay #onlyinjapan #costume #colorhair #fancydress #makeup #anime #cartoon #okayama #japan #nippon #gaijinpottravel #instatravel #visitjapan #explorejpn #japantrip #japantravel #lovers_nippon #loves_nippon #ilovejapan #ig_japan #nipponmade #gaijinlife #bestjapanpics #wanderlust #traveljapan #travelphoto #sharetravelpics #beautifuldestinations

A post shared by Amaury Bargain (@amaurybargain) on Feb 26, 2018 at 2:48pm PST

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3) A rivier gallery in Nakai, Tokyo.

“The river gallery” ? Hundreds of metres of cloth float above the river, bringing Tokyo’s old kimono-making district back to life. ・ #somenokomichi #nakai #shinjuku #oldtokyo #japaneseculture #kimono #dyedfabric #traditional #ig_japan #gaijinpottravel #visitjapan #explorejpn #染の小道 #中井 #新宿 #伝統 #着物 #反物

A post shared by Celia Knox (@celiaintokyo) on Feb 25, 2018 at 4:32am PST

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4) When winter comes, so do beautiful monsters at Zao Onsen, Yamagata.

Snow monsters of Zao in Yamagata is a winter must see. #winter #snow #snowmonster #zao #zaoonsen #onsen #yamagata #tohoku #japan #travel #wanderlust #instatravel #potd #adventure #explore #bestjapanpics #japantravel #igers #gaijin #passionpassport #beautifuldestinations #visitjapan #gaijinpottravel

A post shared by Jayson (@chikfeir) on Jan 16, 2018 at 5:46am PST

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5) A yellow tanuki (raccoon dog)? Ka-wa-iiiiiiiii in Osaka.

Tanuki que me encontré en un callejón perdido. Update: Los tanuki (mapache/perro mapache) son unos animales muy importantes dentro de la cultura japonesa. Simbolizan la prosperidad y la fortuna y se pueden ver en frente de miles de casas y restaurantes. #japón #onlyinjapan #holiday #beautifuldestinations #amazingtrips #worldwide #wishlist #wonderfulplaces #gaijinpottravel #yestc #worldplaces #fantasticview #world #instatravel funtime #osaka #fantastic #photowall #bestvacations #thebestshooter #wanderlust #mustsee #thebest #natgeoru #prilaga #photos #travellife #worlderlust #exploringtheglobe

A post shared by Yunae (@yunae) on Feb 16, 2018 at 1:10am PST

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6) Oh the places you’ll go at Fuji Station in Shizuoka.

What a way to get photobombed by Fuji san.

A post shared by ヤズマン (@ironflvg) on Feb 14, 2018 at 12:16am PST

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7) IRL. Does kinkaku-ji even have a bad angle? In Kyoto.

Kinkakuji looks lovely even against a grey sky ?

A post shared by Girljin in Japan??Kyoto-based (@girljininjapan) on Feb 9, 2018 at 9:08pm PST

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8) Kyushu… my God-Buddha-Allah-Flying-Spaghetti-Monster. ?? Way down in Kagoshima.

In Kyushu you can find black sand beaches and steam sand baths, which are heated by natural subterranean geysers. And if you are lucky, there are also some hidden natural onsens. ??? . Japan Kyushu regiojaban fekete homokos tengerpartokat es foldalatti termeszetes gejzirek altal futott homokos gozfurdoket talalni. Es ha szerencses vagy, akkor termeszetes forrovizes furdoket is. ??? . #japan #instablog #expatlife #expat #kagoshima #japanlife #日本 #instagramjapan #igersjp #explorejapan #bestjapanpics #picsjp #igjapan #special_spot_ #gaijinpottravel #鹿児島 #island #sunlight #napfény #tenger #sea #geyser #steam #beach

A post shared by Our Year in Tokyo (@ouryearintokyo) on Feb 5, 2018 at 5:31am PST

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9) Mad chill in Nagano.

I need some meditation, all those tourists are boring me… . . . #monkey #jigokudani #nagano #yamanouchi #yudanaka #shibuonsen #wildlife #wild #winter #snow #japan #nippon #instatravel #visitjapan #explorejpn #japantrip #lovers_nippon #ilovejapan #animal #nipponmade #gaijinlife #bestjapanpics #wanderlust #traveljapan #natgeotravel #sharetravelpics #beautifuldestinations #gaijinpottravel #igersjapan #offthebeatentrack

A post shared by Amaury Bargain (@amaurybargain) on Feb 3, 2018 at 3:30am PST

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10) Frosty boat ride at Mogami River in Yamagata.

River cruise. 最上川舟下り（Mogami river boat ride） #japaneselandscape #mogamiriver #mogamiriverboatride #jreast #PR #japan #tohoku #yamagata #snowfest #mogamiriverfurusatopark #vj_view_2018 #unknownjapan #gaijinpottravel #japan_of_insta #japan #tokyocameraclub #japan_daytime_view #japan_focus #explorejapan #travelgram #instagramjapan #japanstagram #instagraphymkd #instagraphytk #revoshot #rebornphoto #inspirationcultmag #portretmagazin #инстаграмџии #gameoftones #vscomoment

A post shared by Zoria'sTokyo+ (@zoria_in_tokyo) on Feb 6, 2018 at 3:17am PST

Thanks for tagging us and for reading. See you next month!