Japan Travel Gallery Photo Contest 2022

Winning photos of the Japan Travel Gallery Photo Contest 2021:
ALPIN SUTOPO, Eric Flerchinger, Hao Chih (Hero), Liao,
Hattie Richardson, Nguyen Khac Tien, Rahat Kijjariyapoom,
Rodrigo Kobayashi, VILLA Pierre,
アレクサンダー・ファレル, ブー・バン・クアン

About the
Japan Travel Gallery
Photo Contest

Following last year’s photo contest, Tokyo Camera Club will again hold a photo contest this year on Instagram for foreign residents of Japan(*1) under the theme of "My Encounter with Japan."

We are one of the largest communities for photography lovers in Japan with a total of 5.4 million fans.
Photography has the power to inspire and enrich the mind, soul, and lives of people; and through this medium, we strive to deliver the charms of various areas in Japan. We hope that these charms will be conveyed not only to people in Japan but also to people around the world—ultimately to partake in the realization of a more tolerant and peaceful world.
And in making this effort, the photos we receive from you every day through our social media have been the foundation to our mission.

In discovering the charms of Japan, it is essential to have diverse viewpoints. In fact, many notable "landmarks" have been discovered by visitors from overseas, such as the Scramble Crossing in Shibuya.
We would love for you to participate in this effort—those who come from diverse cultural backgrounds, those who have knowledge and love for your hometowns and countries, and those who have the experience of living in Japan—to share with us the beauty of Japan that you have found with your unique perspective.

We invite you to submit any photos—such as snapshots of everyday life, travel, landscapes, portraits, culture, food, etc.—as long as they are taken in Japan.

At Tokyo Camera Club, we hold an annual photo exhibition in which tens of thousands of photography fans participate. The winners of this Contest will have their works displayed at this year’s "Tokyo Camera Club 2022 Photo Exhibition." (Details TBD)

“An encounter with a photo, is an encounter with the world”

We hope that this will be an opportunity to send a shoutout to everyone, who through the expression of photography, captures various moments from the ordinary to those that move us. We also would appreciate the support of your work to help bring a moment of peace to the world in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis and other worldly tragedies.

Winners of the Contest will not only have their works displayed at our annual photo exhibition, but will also receive a print(*2) of their work if desired. We appreciate your understanding that if the exhibition is held online only due to the effects of COVID-19 or any other unavoidable circumstances such as natural disasters, other infection prevention and control, or restrictions by the government and municipalities, the winning works will be displayed online only and no prints will be given away.

(*1) "Foreign residents" of Japan: Please refer to "Eligibility" below for details.
(*2) The size of the print at the on-site exhibition is yet to be determined. The print will be in high quality and mounted on a backing board for the exhibition. The print will not come with a frame as we plan to rent frames during the exhibition. Prints will be sent via cash-on-delivery.

*Please refer to “Prizes” below for details on the exhibition, rewards, etc.

Please add the specified hashtag at the time of submission or within 24 hours of submission, and during the submission period of the Contest.

Due to changes in Instagram's API, even if you add the specified hashtag to a past post, if that post had been posted for more than 24 hours, the post cannot be downloaded via the Instagram API and therefore will not be eligible. Only submissions that were able to be downloaded using our system will be considered (please do not inquire as to whether or not your submission has been downloaded).

You may use any camera or device to take your photos. We look forward to seeing your wonderful photos of Japan!

*It is not our intention to increase the risk of transmission of COVID-19, and therefore welcome the submission of photos taken in the past.
*When traveling across prefectures, please act according to instructions issued by the prefecture in which you reside.
*Private accounts and posts without the specified hashtags will not be eligible for the Contest.

Contest Period

April 26th, 2022(Tues)
through July 12th, 2022(Tues)
23:59 JST

Theme and Hashtags

“My Encounter with Japan”

To submit for the Contest, include the following hashtags in your Instagram post along with your favorite scenery, cuisine, or moment in Japan.
Photos taken in the past are welcome. We look forward to seeing wonderful photos of Japan you'd like to share with Japan and the world!

Theme:

Any photos taken in Japan
(Snapshots of everyday life, travel, landscapes, portraits, culture, food, etc.)

Hashtags:

Main hashtag.
(Required)

#JapanTravelGalleryContest2022

Tag the region to which your home country/region belongs,
or the region of the country/region with which you identify.
(Required)

#YourRegion
(#Asia, #Africa, #NorthAmerica, #SouthAmerica, #Europe, #Oceania)

Tag your home country/region, or the country/region with which you identify too!
(Optional)

#YourHomeCountry
or
#YourHomeRegion
(eg. #Canada, #Malaysia, #Singapore, #UnitedKingdom, etc.)

Hashtag Generator

Select your home country/region or the country/region with which you identify from the pulldown below. Press the "Copy Hashtags" button and paste the hashtags onto your Instagram post for the Contest!

*Hashtags may be written in upper or lower case, but only half-width characters will be eligible.
*Private accounts and posts without the specified hashtags will not be eligible for the Contest.
*Please include the hashtags in your post. Posts with hashtags in the comments section will not be eligible.
*Please add the specified hashtag at the time of submission or within 24 hours of submission, and during the contest period. Posts that have been posted for more than 24 hours will not be eligible even if you add the specified hashtags later on.

How to Submit

Follow the Japan Travel Gallery Instagram account (@japantravelgallery)
Post your photo on Instagram with the following hashtags within the contest period
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via Instagram Direct Messenger

*Shortlisted candidates will be requested to submit their data by a specified day for copyright verification. Please beware that we will only be contacting shortlisted candidates, and we will not be accepting inquiries as to whether a participant's submission has been selected or not.
*Photos submitted must be entirely your own. In order to check that the submitted photo is the original work of the submitter, we will be requesting the shortlisted candidates to submit RAW data or unedited original data that include EXIF data with the shooting date and equipment information. Please be sure to retain the original data of your work.

Prizes

Winners (5 Persons)

Winners of the Contest will have their works displayed at our annual photo exhibition and will receive a print(*2) of their work if desired. We appreciate your understanding that if the exhibition is held online due to the effects of COVID-19, the winning works will be displayed online only and no prints will be given away.

(*2)The size of the print at the exhibition is yet to be determined. The print will be in high quality and mounted on a backing board for the exhibition. If you prefer to receive a print of your work, please note that it will not come with a frame as we plan to rent frames during the exhibition. Prints will be sent via cash-on-delivery.

*We ask for your understanding that in making the decision to hold the exhibition on-site or online only, we give top priority to the safety and security of the participants, as well as consideration to the social impact of the event. We will not provide individual answers regarding the criteria and reasoning behind our decision.
*Winning works, submitted works, and comments posted for the Contest may be shared on Tokyo Camera Club's website, related websites, related medium, and other Tokyo Camera Club social media. Please note, the work or comment may be edited for layout/length. We will notify you via e-mail when possible.

Submission Guidelines

Contest Period

April 26th, 2022 (Tues)
through July 12th, 2022(Tues)
23:59 JST

Announcement of Winners

Winning photos will be announced at the Tokyo Camera Club 2022 Photo Exhibition. The details of the exhibition will be announced as determined.

*Photos submitted must be entirely your own. In order to check that the submitted photo is the original work of the submitter, we will be requesting the shortlisted candidates to submit RAW data or unedited original data that include EXIF data with the shooting date and equipment information. Please be sure to retain the original data of your work.
*Please be sure to follow the specified Instagram account, as shortlisted candidates will be contacted via Instagram's Direct Message from the contest's campaign account. If you do not follow the account, the campaign office will not be able to notify the candidate and/or the candidate may not notice our DM, resulting in elimination.

Judges

Tokyo Camera Club

Tokyo Camera Club is one of the largest photo curating communities in Japan.
We operate on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Mastodon, where anyone can post photos to be shared and viewed by our total of 5.4 million fans. Those who just want to stop by and enjoy some beautiful photos are always welcome as well. Our name may say “Tokyo” but you do not have to live in Tokyo in order to be eligible.

For inquiries regarding the Contest, please contact the "Tokyo Camera Club Campaign Office." Inquiries not directed to the "Tokyo Camera Club Campaign Office." will not be accepted.

Eligibility

  • Participants must have a valid shipping address in Japan (required for delivery of prizes).
  • Participants must include in their submission a tag of the region to which their home country/region belongs, or the country/region with which they identify.
  • Participants must be able to communicate in Japanese (read, write, and speak), as shortlisted candidates will be contacted in Japanese for the copyright verification process.
  • Participants must have an Instagram account.
  • Participants are asked to follow the official Japan Travel Gallery Instagram account.
  • Participants must post their photos with the specified hashtags listed in the Submission Guidelines.
  • Participants shall be deemed to have agreed to the Submission Guidelines (including the Use of Personal Information and Disclaimer) upon submitting (posting) to the Contest.
  • Participants may use any camera or device to take their photos.
  • Participants may submit photos taken in the past.
  • Participants may submit edited or retouched photos.
  • Participants may submit as many works as they wish.
  • Submissions are limited to original works, of which all rights (including copyrights), belong to the participant. Participants may not infringe copyrights by using third-party images posted on external websites and blogs without permission. Submissions that depict images of other persons are limited to those that have cleared publicity rights in advance. Participants also must not create composite images using free/stock images.
  • Participants of all levels (amateur or professional), nationality, and age are welcome. Participants under the age of 18 are required to have prior permission of a parent or guardian. Participants under 18 shall be deemed to have the consent of a parent or guardian upon submission.

*Private accounts and posts without the specified hashtags will not be eligible for the Contest.
*Make sure to include the specified hashtags in the post. Submissions will not be accepted if the hashtags are included in the comments section.
*Make sure to add the specified hashtags at the time of submission or within 24 hours of submission and during the contest period. Posts that have been posted for more than 24 hours will not be eligible even if you add the hashtags later on.

How to Submit, If you are Shortlisted,
and the Process of Notification

STEP 1

Follow the Instagram account below:
Japan Travel Gallery Instagram account (@japantravelgallery)

STEP 2

Post your photo on Instagram with the following hashtags within the contest period.

  • #JapanTravelGalleryContest2022 + 1 hashtag from the 6 region hashtags*
  • In addition, tag your home country/region, or the country/region with which you identify. (Optional)

Use our convenient Hashtag Generator to generate and copy the specified hashtags!

*6 region hashtags: #Asia, #Africa, #NorthAmerica, #SouthAmerica, #Europe, #Oceania

STEP 3

Shortlisted candidates will be notified in mid-July 2022 for the final verification process.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via Instagram Direct Messenger.
Candidates will be requested to submit their data by a specified day for copyright verification. Please note that we will only be contacting shortlisted candidates, and we will not be accepting inquiries as to whether a participant's submission has been selected or not.

*Photos submitted must be entirely your own. In order to check that the submitted photo is the original work of the submitter, we will be requesting the shortlisted candidates to submit RAW data or unedited original data that include EXIF data with the shooting date and equipment information. Please be sure to retain the original data of your work.
*Please note, in case a shortlisted candidate's email address is unreachable, or we do not receive a reply by the specified date, we will assume that the prize has been rejected and contact the runner-up for the prize.
*Shortlisted candidates may receive emails from the following campaign office’s email addresses: and . Please be sure to change your settings in advance so that you can receive emails from these addresses.

Instructions for domain-specific reception for each cell-phone company can be found below:
- NTT docomo
- au
- SoftBank
- Y!mobile

STEP 4

Winning photos will be displayed at "Tokyo Camera Club 2022 Photo Exhibition." (Details TBD)

*Please note, the on-site exhibition encourages visitors to take photos at the venue to share on social media.
*The details of the exhibition will be announced as determined.
*If the on-site exhibition is canceled due to unavoidable circumstances such as natural disasters, infection prevention and control, or restrictions by the government and municipalities, the exhibition will be held online only. We appreciate your understanding that in this case, no prints will be given away.

STEP 5

Prints of the winning works will be sent out in December 2022 or later (Schedule TBD. Prints are only sent upon request.)

*The size of the print at the on-site exhibition is yet to be determined. The print will be in high quality and mounted on a backing board for the exhibition. The print will not come with a frame as we plan to rent frames during the exhibition. Please note, we cannot send prints to an address overseas. We hold no responsibility for any damage, stains, loss, or theft of the prints due to shipping. Prints will be sent via cash-on-delivery. We appreciate your kind understanding.
*The prints will be delivered by Yamato Transport Co., Ltd. For more information about Yamato Transport Co., Ltd's Privacy Policy, click here.

Data Requirements

  • Photos developed or edited by digital image processing are eligible.
  • Still-images extracted from videos are not eligible.

Number of Submissions

There is no limit to the number of posts submitted.

Use of Personal Information

  • The Contest is organized by Tokyo Camera Club Corporation and conducted by Tokyo Camera Club Corporation.
  • Personal information obtained through the Contest will be strictly managed and will be used only for the following purposes: implementing, conducting, and promoting the Contest, as well as other contest-related purposes such as sending notices, managing submissions, exhibiting winning works, and generating non-personally identifiable statistical data within the scope permitted by the Personal Information Protection Law, and for no other purposes. Please acknowledge that any data collected through the Contest (such as EXIF data) will be processed into non-personally identifiable statistical information for analysis, which may be disclosed to third parties such as sponsoring companies.
  • Personal information obtained through the Contest will not be disclosed to any third party without the participant’s consent, except in the following cases: when announcing the contest winners and introducing the winning works, when entrusting the operation of conducting, managing, and promoting the Contest to a subcontractor, and when required by law.
  • In participating in the Contest, providing personal information is optional. However, please note that refusal to submit the information may lead to the participant’s elimination from the selection process.
  • Personal information provided by the participants will be shared and used within the following scope .
    1. Data to be Used
      Information provided at the time of entry: name, date of birth, address, telephone number, e-mail address, etc.
    2. Entities that will use the data
      Tokyo Camera Club
      Tokyo Camera Club Corporation, the operating company of Tokyo Camera Club
      Yamato Transport Co., Ltd (necessary information for delivery of the prizes only)
    3. Purpose of Use
      Personal information provided by the participants will be used only for the following purposes: Contest-related purposes such as sending notices, managing submissions, exhibiting winning works, and generating non-personally identifiable statistical data, as well as conducting, managing, and promoting the Contest.
    4. Chief Privacy Officer and Chief Administrator
      The Director of Tokyo Camera Club Corporation
      For more information about Tokyo Camera Club Corporation's Privacy Policy, click here.
      Prints will be delivered by Yamato Transport Co., Ltd upon request. For more information about Yamato Transport Co., Ltd's Privacy Policy, click here.
  • Inquiries Regarding Personal Information
    For participants who wish to request disclosure of the personal information registered with us, we will disclose the information after confirming your identity in accordance with our prescribed procedures.
    In case any information is found to be inaccurate or incorrect, we will make a correction.
    For inquiries and requests for disclosure of personal information, please send an email to:
    (Japanese only)

Disclaimer

  • Participants must provide accurate information when asked. The organizer does not accept any responsibility for the disqualification of submissions, or any damages incurred by inaccurate information.
  • Submissions are not limited to previously unpublished works.
    However, when submitting a work that has won an award in the past or work that is being submitted to another contest, the participant should check the submission guidelines of the past contest carefully to prevent any trouble. Works that have been published by the participant for non-commercial purposes, works posted on participant's social media, blogs, etc., and works displayed at non-juried photo exhibitions are also eligible for submission.
  • The copyrights to the works submitted to the Contest belong to the participant.
  • Participants cannot withdraw submissions from the Contest once submitted.
  • Participants are responsible for saving backups of their works.
  • The organizer cannot accept works (including data stored on storage devices) sent by post mail or directly brought to the campaign office. The campaign office will not return works sent by mail.
  • The Contest does not allow a participant to win multiple awards. (If a submission is selected for an award, the candidate's other submissions will be eliminated from the selection process.)
  • Please note that if a participant is found to have won or been shortlisted for multiple awards in the Contest, the organizer may rescind the award, even after sending out the notification for the shortlisted candidates or winners.
  • No payment will be made to the winners for the exhibition. The organizers will bear all costs related to the exhibition (venue costs, printing and backing costs), and the winners will not be charged for the exhibition. We do not accept requests regarding the photofinishing laboratory, color or revision of the prints, size, or location of the work within the exhibition venue.
    *The winning works will be displayed with the photographer’s name. Please refrain from opting out from the exhibition.
  • Unlike regular photo exhibitions, the Tokyo Camera Club 2022 Photo Exhibition will allow participants to take photos at the venue and share their photos on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The same applies to award winning photos displayed at the exhibition.
  • The winners shall allow Tokyo Camera Club (including third parties authorized by Tokyo Camera Club) to use, publish, reprint, or broadcast the winning works indefinitely free of charge for public relations activities of Tokyo Camera Club Corporation and Tokyo Camera Club. With prior notification, all submitted works may be used in the same manner as above. The participant shall not assert any rights based on the author's moral rights against Tokyo Camera Club.
  • For the use stated above, Tokyo Camera Club may crop, edit, or modify the work using visual effects, music, and sound effects without prior approval from the participants.
  • When sharing the winning works both online and on-site, the resolution, color, and angle may differ from the participant’s preference. This is due to specification limitations of social networking services, YouTube, monitors, devices, print media, photographic paper, and viewing environments.
  • The winners shall allow Tokyo Camera Club (including third parties authorized by Tokyo Camera Club Corporation) to use, publish, reprint, or broadcast the winners’ names, winning works, and shooting locations indefinitely free of charge on a web application which displays the above-said information, and may provide them to other companies.
    The winners shall not assert any rights based on the author's moral rights against Tokyo Camera Club and third parties authorized by Tokyo Camera Club.
  • Participants shall warrant that they hold all rights including copyrights and portrait rights to the subject and portraits in their works, or that they have prior permission from the right-holders.
    It is the sole responsibility of the participants to confirm that their submissions do not infringe the rights of any third party. Participants are responsible to obtain: permission to use the image of any person depicted in the works; in case of a minor, permission from the parent or guardian; in the case of shrines, temples, commercial facilities, prior permission for shooting and submitting to the Contest. Participants may not submit works that include advertisements, signboards, or brand logos. Participants may not submit works that offend public order and morals.
  • Regarding the provisions in the preceding paragraph, if a third party who has seen the winning submission reports an infringement of copyright or portrait right or an invasion of privacy, the award may be rescinded after consultation.
  • Photographing a third-party work and using it as a material to process or composite an image without permission is an infringement of copyright. Participants must obtain prior consent from the right holders.
  • The organizer may delete a submission without prior notice, or rescind the award given to a participant who has been deemed to have violated public order and morals, has defamed or caused disadvantage to other participants, or fall under the category of antisocial forces (or its equivalent).
  • Participants shall resolve any disputes with third parties regarding their submission at the participant's cost. Tokyo Camera Club Corporation and Tokyo Camera Club do not hold responsibility.
  • The Submission Guidelines shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Japan, and the Tokyo District Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction for the first instance over any lawsuit in connection with the Contest, or Submission Guidelines.
  • No inquiries will be accepted regarding submissions and the selection of winners.
  • Prizes are non-transferable and non-exchangeable for cash.
  • Participants shall bear all costs incurred upon submission to the Contest, excluding the prints for the on-site exhibition.
  • The Tokyo Camera Club Campaign Office may change the items of the Submission Guidelines of the Contest when deemed necessary and implement necessary measures to ensure the proper operation of the Contest.
  • Participants entering the Contest shall comply with the management policy of Tokyo Camera Club Campaign Office and shall not raise any objection to its operation.
  • If the on-site exhibition is canceled due to unavoidable circumstances such as natural disasters, infection prevention and control, or restrictions by the government and municipalities, the exhibition will be held online only. We appreciate your understanding that in this case, no prints will be given away.
  • The Contest is organized and conducted by Tokyo Camera Club. Facebook Inc. and Instagram are not affiliated with the Contest, and do not sponsor, approve, or operate the Contest in any way. Participants are deemed to have agreed that Facebook Inc. and Instagram have no involvement with the participants' submission and prizes.
  • In no event will Tokyo Camera Club Corporation and Tokyo Camera Club be liable for any loss or damage arising out of the interruption or termination of Facebook, Instagram, and the Contest.
    The Contest details may be subject to change without prior notice.
  • While the utmost care will be taken in handling submissions, the organizer holds no responsibility for any accidents that may occur.
  • Participants under the age of 18 are required to have prior permission of a parent or guardian. Participants under 18 shall be deemed to have the consent of a parent or guardian upon submission.

Inquiries

For inquiries regarding the Contest, please contact the "Tokyo Camera Club Campaign Office" here
*Please note that the schedule of the Contest is subject to change without prior notice.
*Response to inquiries may take around two business days.