Check Out Japan’s Most Instagram Worthy Spots Of 2023

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Snaplace, a service that analyzes SNS data to determine trends, recently revealed the most popular spots for Instagram photos in Japan. The list includes the top “Instagrammable” spot in each of Japan’s 47 prefectures.

Experts at Snaplace also analyzed the data to determine trends and common elements between the popular photo spots. Snaplace’s findings indicate that many of these trends are likely to continue into 2024. They encourage Instagram influencers both old and new to snap photos in these 47 locations.

What Is Snaplace?

Hoshiimo Shrine, Ibaraki Prefecture. (Picture: 二匹の魚 / PIXTA(ピクスタ))

Founded in 2016, Snaplace is a Tokyo-based company dedicated to collecting and sharing the most social media-friendly spots. It highlights the most popular places to Tweet about, the best locations to grab a selfie, and much more.

Interactive maps of Tokyo, Okinawa, Hokkaido, Los Angeles, Hawaii, and more are available to browse on Snaplace’s Web site. The service also collects and predicts social media trends such as dessert photography, 定番 or “classic” spots, and animal cafes.

In its analysis of 2023 trends, Snaplace considered over 12,000 social media posts made between January and December 2023. The analysis made use of GRASIS, an AI-assisted program integrated into Instagram that provides recommendations for taking better pictures and creating more memorable posts. A basic version of GRASIS is available for free, and several tiers of paid plans offer various features.

2023 Trends: Light Colors, “Extraordinary” Feelings, and Art

Snaplace identified three key trends in popular Japanese Instagram spots of 2023. These were light or pale colors, especially white, places that give the viewer a 非日 (hijou, extraordinary or unexpected) feeling, and artistic composition. Snaplace’s analysis predicted that these trends would likely continue into 2024, given their predominance in 2023.

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Light Colors

Shibuya Scramble, as seen from Shibuya Scramble Square — Shibuya Scramble as seen from Shibuya Scramble Square. (Picture: genki / PIXTA(ピクスタ))

White, pastel, and light-colored spots were popular because they naturally draw the eye when scrolling on Instagram. Instagram feeds are so often a nonstop riot of colors. A pale-hued image can be relaxing and feel like a refreshing break between brighter pictures. Analysts at Snaplace identified white as the overall most popular color for Instagram spots but noted that various other pale and pastel shades were also popular.

Miyazawa Kenji Fairy Tale Museum, Iwate Prefecture — Picture: なな / PIXTA(ピクスタ)

Several of 2023’s most popular spots included an overall light color palette. One was the starkly white “Hill of the Future Heart” at Kosanji Temple in Hiroshima Prefecture. Made from white marble, the artsy outdoor space is designed to invoke an ancient Greek aesthetic.

Another was Iwate’s Miyazawa Kenji Fairy Tale Village, which juxtaposes colorful trees and lights against a pure white background. Still others included the gray brick Bunshokan Museum in Yamagata, the pale yellow Hoishimo Shrine in Ibaraki, and the stunning snow-covered mountain views from Hakuba Mountain Harbor in Nagano.

“Extraordinary” and “Unexpected” Feelings

Matsue Vogel Park, Shimane Prefecture. (Picture: 佐武巧矢 / PIXTA(ピクスタ))

Viewers on Instagram are always looking for something new. Rather than seeing tons of images of the same spot, they want to see something truly unexpected. Snaplace defined a “非日” spot as “something that immediately makes you wonder – What is that? Where is that?” Another definition provided was “something that feels like you’ve never seen it before, whether or not you have.”

Arita Porcelain Park, Saga Prefecture. (Picture: Y.BLUE / PIXTA(ピクスタ))

One example of the “非日” feeling Snaplace provided was “places that make you think you’re traveling abroad, but you’re still in Japan.” For example, the Arita Porcelain Park in Saga features architecture that makes visitors feel they have been transported to a German palace. Kochi Prefecture’s Villa Santorini hotel invokes a Mediterranean getaway. (As a bonus, it also features a primarily white color scheme!)

The American Village, located in Okinawa, is designed like an outdoor shopping mall from the US. It includes a Ferris wheel, tons of Western shops, and restaurants serving American classics like hamburgers and barbecue.

Another definition of “非日” is a spot that makes you feel genuine shock and surprise when you see it on your Instagram feed. For example, the SHIBUYA SKY observation deck in Tokyo provides a sometimes dizzying view of the bustling city below. The massive red-and-white sculptures emerging from the ground in Chiba’s Kurkku Fields can also be a shock to the eye. And what could be more unexpected than the sight of marching penguins wearing colorful bow ties at Matsue Vogel Park in Shimane?

Art Museums & Natural Art

Kirishima Art Forest, Kagoshima Prefecture — Picture: Midipa / PIXTA(ピクスタ)

The third of 2023’s Instagram trends was the most straightforward. Art museums and natural art spaces such as art parks or forests were extremely popular places to snap an Instagram pic.

Several art museums appeared on Snaplace’s list. These included the Sapporo Art Museum and adjacent Art Park in Hokkaido, the Towada City Museum of Contemporary Art in Aomori, and the Kadokawa Cultural Museum in Saitama. Aichi’s Mikawakogei Glass Museum, Ishikawa’s 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and Tokushima’s Otsuka Museum of Art also made the list.

Locations that blended art and nature were also popular. Kanagawa’s top Instagram spot was the Hakone Open-Air Museum, where visitors can wander between various art displays in a sprawling park. The aforementioned Kurkku Fields of Chiba is both an outdoor art museum and a sustainable farm delivering organic produce.

Kagoshima’s “Art Forest,” nestled in the foothills of Mount Kirishima, offers a full 20 hectares of open-air art displays for visitors to enjoy and photograph. Places like these allow Instagram influencers to create elaborately staged photos that include both natural vistas and colorful paintings or sculptures.

Visit These Top Instagram Spots In Japan

The full list of 2023’s 47 most Instagrammable spots can be found on Snaplace’s Web site. To help Instagram influencers and casual travelers alike visit these spots, the list also includes directions to the spots as well as information about access and hours of operation.

Those planning to visit Japan in 2024 and beyond should definitely visit – and snap a pic at – these Instagram-friendly locations. Alternately, visit and photograph new spots to help establish new trends for the new year.

List of all 47 top Instagram spots across Japan

Note: Some of these sites are only in Japanese. Need help navigating a particular location? Unseen Japan Tours can put together a tour plan for you (and even be your tour guides if you like!).

[Hokkaido] Sapporo Art Park

[Aomori Prefecture] Towada Art Center

[Iwate Prefecture] Kenji Miyazawa Fairy Tale Village

[Miyagi Prefecture] Shichigahama International Village (Japanese)

[Akita Prefecture] Kosaka Mine Office (Japanese, English machine translation available)

[Yamagata Prefecture] Bunshokan (Japanese)

[Fukushima Prefecture] Inawashiro Herb Garden (Japanese)

[Ibaraki Prefecture] Hoishimo Shrine (Japanese)

[Tochigi Prefecture] Nasu Teddy Bear Museum

[Gunma Prefecture] Lock Heart Castle

[Saitama Prefecture] Kadokawa Culture Museum

[Chiba Prefecture] Kurkku Fields (English guide)