Top 10 Readers’ Photos: September 2018 in Japan

This month is brought to you by brilliant geometric shapes and patterns both man-made and made by nature. September took us from islands in Hiroshima to campsites in Gifu, but what will October bring? Every month, we select 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. Shiroyone Senmaida Rice Terrace in Ishikawa Prefecture. Also one of our Top 10 Japan Destinations in 2018!

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写真を載せるにあたって、ちょっぴりウェブを見たりもするのだけれど、田んぼの総数1004枚ってのにはオドロキ。実際に近くで見てみると、それぞれの田んぼに、個人や団体の名前の入った小さな標柱があって、なんだかちょっぴり憧れました。田んぼのオーナー制度もあるみたいなので、いつか！ The literal translation of "senmaida" is "a thousand rice fields" – a very apt name as there are 1,004 miniature rice fields crammed into this tiny seaside abode: one that is designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. Each has a different owner, from prefectures all across Japan; their names and places of residences painted on wooden posts scattered throughout the fields. A local group takes care of them throughout the year on the owners' behalf – and all manually, too, as the paddies are much too small for the farmers to use any form of machinery. Perhaps one day Maki and I can have a stake in this amazing place… and I mean that quite literally too! 16 June 2018 #japan #leicam5 #senmaida #iro200 #filmneverdie #myjapan #japan_vacations #visitjapanjp #japan_visit #japan_daytime_view #gaijinpottravel #japanawaits #daily_photo_japan #explorejpn #filmalliance #istillshootfilm #shotonfilm #filmphotography #art_of_japan #tripgramjp_ishikawa #hokuriku #travellingonfilm #hakui #travelingcouple #naturelover #旅好き #フィルムカメラ好きな人と繋がりたい #北陸 #その旅に物語を #千枚田

A post shared by travellingonfilm (@travellingonfilm) on Sep 24, 2018 at 6:39am PDT

 

2. Did you forget about Kyoto Tower?

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Japanese tradition and modernity on the same pic ⛩️? . . . #kyoto #kyotojapan #temple #kyototravel #daimonji #buddhism #buddha #statue #japan #travelphoto #explorejapan #explorejpn #gaijinpottravel #loves_nippon #lovers_nippon #japan_daytime_view #japan_of_insta #igers #ig_japan #travel #religion #jp_gallery #kyotolife #photo_jpn #team_jp_ #phos_jpn #instagramjapan #kyotogram #discoverkyoto #kyototower

A post shared by Amaury Bargain (@amaurybargain) on Sep 24, 2018 at 2:10am PDT

 

3. Tokyo Tower, Tokyo.

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From ?? to ?? ? Going up to Tokyo Tower for the 2nd time! This time with @iamenerjinna ❤️❤️❤️ love our trips together! Hopefully we could travel again??? Where do we meet??? ????? ? . . . #travel #instatravel #wanderlust #traveling #travelista #travelholic #follow #instagood #travelguide #travelblogger #globetrotter #simpleflaneur #igrs #filipina #femaletraveler #friendshipgoals #friends #tokyotower #tokyo

A post shared by Bella Muerte (@lykishkeane) on Sep 17, 2018 at 8:21pm PDT

 

4. Mount Aso in Kumamoto.

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Ladies and gentlemen, the Nakadake crater of Mt. Aso. #nofilter #japanese #japan #japan_of_insta #japanlife #japantravel #volcano #mountains #gaijinpottravel #mountain #scenary #landscape #green #nature #kumamoto #aso #beauty #lovers_nippon #日本 #熊本 #阿蘇 #阿蘇山

A post shared by Unfiltered Japan (@unfilteredjapan) on Sep 12, 2018 at 2:23am PDT

 

5. Yamashita Park, Yokohama.

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山下公園 . . . #横浜 #神奈川 #日本 #山下公園 #世界の広場 #公園 #庭園 #yokohama #kanagawa #japan #yamashitapark #worldsquare #park #garden #gdayjapan #gaijinpottravel #visitjapanau #gogonihon

A post shared by Joel Cross (@depressedgaijin) on Sep 10, 2018 at 12:24am PDT

 

6. Miyajima Campsite in Gifu.

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Coolest camp ground I've seen! #japanawaits #japanoutdoors #japan #tokyocameraclub #gaijinpot #gaijinpottravel #hike #waterfalls #unknownjapan #japanadventures #bunnytokyotag #roadtripjapan #wanderlust #waterfallscollective #waterfallsfordays #waterfall #nature #matcha #japan_daytime_view #instagramjapan #japanstagram #東京カメラ部 #岐阜県#kf_gallery #scape_captures #japantravelphoto #explorejapan #nippon #wonderfulplaces #magnificentjapan

A post shared by James Thurland (@thurlandjames) on Sep 9, 2018 at 7:06pm PDT

 

7. Miho Museum in Shiga Prefecture.

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Miho museum – Japan . . . #tokyocameraclub #gaijinpot #gaijinpottravel #instagramjapan #inspirationcultmag #japan #mihomuseum #leica #leicam2 #kodak #kodakfilm #ektar100 #filmisnotdead #keepfilmalive #believeinfilm #ishootfilm #analog #35mm #door #forrest #nature

A post shared by Ahmet (@trapped_on_film) on Sep 4, 2018 at 6:17pm PDT

 

8. Umeda Sky Building in Osaka.

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??There will always be light at the end of the tunnel. People of Kansai, stay strong! . . . . . #SonyAlpha #BeAlpha #RX100IV #RX100m4 #Japan #Osaka #UmedaSkyBuilding #streetphotography #aesthetic #agameoftones #gaijinpottravel #symmetryhunters

A post shared by Kia Hau (@neverasleep) on Sep 4, 2018 at 7:55am PDT

 

9. Everywhere, Japan.

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Organised Chaos in Japan . . . . . #sonyalpha #bealpha #rx100iv #rx100m4 #japan #agameoftones #aesthetic #vacation #travel #streetphotography #gaijinpottravel #createexplore #vsco

A post shared by Kia Hau (@neverasleep) on Sep 1, 2018 at 4:43am PDT

 

10. Kosan-ji Temple on Ikuchijima island in Hiroshima.

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Kosanji on Ikuchijima island is a surprising temple. All monuments here are inspired by those famous antic buildings we can visit in such a place like Nikko! In fact, this temple has been founded in 1936 by a successful businessman who was inspired by his devotion to his mother… . . . #onomichi #setouchi #pagoda #buddhism #kosanji #temple #japanesetraditional #shimanamikaido #seto #startheadventure #morningview #offthebeatentrack #landscape #japan #nippon #instatravel #visitjapan #explorejpn #japantrip #japantravel #lovers_nippon #igersjapan #gaijinlife #bestjapanpics #wanderer #traveljapan #gaijinpottravel #beautifuldestinations #potd #igersjp

A post shared by Amaury Bargain (@amaurybargain) on Aug 31, 2018 at 3:14am PDT