When we are traveling or exploring new places, we all want that iconic picture to send home to our family or let's face it, rub in our friends' faces.

Tokyo and the surrounding area are full of awesome places to get that one picture! That one that you can send home that is like, "BAM! I'm in Japan b****es!"

#1) The Poppy Field at Kurihama Flower World

Poppy field with Children's Day koi fish windsocks

This under-rated park is in Kurihama in the coastal city of Yokosuka. It has different types of flowers year-round, but if you want to see these beautiful poppies in bloom, shoot for late May or early June. You can even pick these at the end of their blooming season from mid to late June. You should visit this park for many other reasons that you can read about here, including getting another iconic shot at our number 2 spot...

2) The Godzilla statue/slide at Kurihama Flower World

The huge statue of Godzilla is one of the biggest in Japan! It was put in the area to commemorate Godzilla coming out of the water at Kannonzaki beach (which is near the park) in the original Godzilla movie. You’ll definitely want a selfie with this big guy. Fun fact: his tail is also a slide for children 😆

Yokosuka is approximately one hour from central Tokyo.

Address: 1 Shinmeicho, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa

3) The Venetian Glass Museum/Hakone Glass Forest

This fantastically instagram-worthy spot is nestled in the mountains of Hakone. About a 2-hour train ride from central Tokyo, Hakone is well worth a long day or weekend trip. Note the beautiful crystal tunnel over the bridge in this photo! It is so much more sparkly in person.

In the sunshine, those crystals create the most beautiful and surreal atmosphere. There are also crystal trees, plants, and sculptures. The whole place is gorgeous and the perfect backdrop for some awesome shots!

To Get There: 940-48 Sengokuhara, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0631, Japan

4) Hakone Open Air Museum

Another great spot in Hakone, the Open Air Museum is essentially a collection of many different types of art plopped right into the great outdoors. Most notable for great pictures, in my opinion, is this symphonic tower. Read more about this unique place here.

Address: 1121 Ninotaira, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0407, Japan

5) Torii Gate on Lake Ashinoko, Hakone

Our last Hakone location, this torii gate is one of the most iconic. While there are torii gates throughout Japan, not too many of them are on a lake near Mount Fuji. This one is located at the Hakone shrine. To get a great photo here though, you might want to have someone else take a picture of you beneath the gate. That’s really the only way you’ll capture just how magnificent of a spot you were in.

To Get There: 80-1 Motohakone, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0522, Japan

6) The Great Buddha

Just a one hour train ride from Tokyo is the Great Buddha, or Daibutsu, in Kamakura. He was built in 1252! He was originally bronze but reduced to the washed-out look he has now by many tsunamis and typhoons. He is extremely impressive and would be a great #Selfie buddy. Just remember to be respectful as he is located at a temple.

Address: 4 Chome-2-28 Hase, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0016, Japan

7) Enoshima Lights

The Nakameguro River is about a 17-minute walk from Ebisu station in Tokyo. This scenic river is lined with Sakura blossoms in the spring, bright fall foliage in the autumn, and holiday lights in the winter. You can walk through magical luminaries, these are lit every year in Remembrance of the earthquake victims of 1995. So it’s nice to honor them and be able to get a magical experience (oh and great gram material) at the same time.

8) Mori Building Tokyo Digital Art Museum

Words cannot do this place justice! The first museum of its kind IN THE ENTIRE WORLD, the Mori Building Tokyo Digital Art Museum is probably the best place to have your picture taken...oh I don’t know...ever!!! This is the stuff dreams are made of!

Address:

MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM: teamLab Borderless Odaiba Palette Town 2F, 1-3-8 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan

9) Shibuya Crossing

This one could be a bit obvious, but it really is an iconic Tokyo scene that everyone needs to get during their time in Japan. Shibuya’s scramble crosswalk is almost an adventure in itself. Good luck and stay safe out there 😂

To get there: leave Shibuya station via the Hachiko exit

10) Nakameguro River

The Nakameguro River is about a 17-minute walk from Ebisu station in Tokyo. This scenic river is lined with Sakura blossoms in the spring, bright fall foliage in the autumn, and holiday lights in the winter.

11) Crepe Shops of Takeshita Street

If you haven’t tried Japanese style crepes, do yourself a favor and go eat some. And while you’re doing that, take your great selfie. One of the most locally popular spots for crepes (and #selfies ) in Tokyo is on Takeshita street in Harajuku. The vivid colors and scenes throughout this entire street will put some of the best instagrammers to shame 😆

Address: 1 Chome-16-16-8 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan

#GaijinNinja #Selfie #InstagramJapan #Tokyo #Hakone #Kamakura

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