Top 10 Readers’ Photos: May

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.

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#1 A masterclass in close up. Taken at Hirosaki Castle, Aomori.

A post shared by Leslie Taylor (@lestaylorphoto) on May 3, 2017 at 3:56am PDT

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#2 With the warmer weather, comes festival season — one of our favorite cultural experiences to have in Japan. Taken in Kisarazu, Chiba.

A post shared by Carlos Kato (@chkato) on May 10, 2017 at 3:18am PDT

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#3 Now that’s what you call outdoor dining. Snapped in Kyoto.

A post shared by VictoriaMarie (@coffeemanong) on May 21, 2017 at 4:26pm PDT

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#4 Aahahahahahahaaaaaaaaa — in the Iya Valley, Shikoku.

A post shared by Celia Knox (@anaussieintokyo) on May 6, 2017 at 9:09pm PDT

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#5 Off to Hiroshima with the bullet train.

A post shared by Wira Siahaan (@ceritawira) on May 9, 2017 at 8:39am PDT

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#6 Another festival shot, this time from the spiritual and spectacular Mount Koya.

A post shared by Ekaterina (@amenohitravels) on May 3, 2017 at 3:32pm PDT

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#7 A sea of blue hemophilia at Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki. They last less than a month — did you manage to catch them?

A post shared by Lost in Japan ? (@yoko_lost_in_japan) on May 7, 2017 at 10:39pm PDT

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#8 This picture looks straight from a beautiful coffee table book about soy sauce. Taken in Ishikawa, a prefecture that’s famed for its delicious seafood.

A post shared by mochitto (@verymerii) on May 6, 2017 at 6:38am PDT

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#9 In the shadows of Shibuya, a hostess waits for potential clients.

A post shared by pooju (@pooj_u) on May 25, 2017 at 12:55pm PDT

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#10 Sunset at the epic Todai-ji in Nara.

A post shared by Frame of Travel (@frameoftravel) on Jun 6, 2017 at 7:26pm PDT