Click here for the details page and contest overview
Greetings
Thank you very much for always using COOL JAPAN VIDEOS.
We sincerely appreciate your participation in the 31st COOL JAPAN VIDEOS Photo Contest – “Autumn in Japan.”
This time, under the theme “Autumn in Japan,” we received a remarkable collection of works capturing the unique charm of the Japanese autumn—vividly colored mountains, tree-lined roads, autumn festivals and traditional events, as well as serene landscapes that evoke the crisp air of the season. Each photograph beautifully captured a memorable moment encountered amid the changing seasons, leaving a gentle yet lasting impression on all who viewed them.
The selected winning entries were chosen for their ability to convey the beauty, emotion, and regional character of Japan in autumn with great care. These works reminded us that the richness of the autumn season can be found not only in extraordinary destinations, but also in quiet moments during travel and even in everyday scenery.
The COOL JAPAN VIDEOS Photo Contest will continue to serve as a platform for sharing the charm of Japan, as seen and felt by everyone, with audiences around the world. We hope that your desire to “share the beauty of Japan” will resonate with people across the globe.
We look forward to your participation in our next photo contest.
Thank you for your continued support of COOL JAPAN VIDEOS.
Announcement of Results
If you were selected as a winner, please follow the proper procedures to receive your prize.
Both the photograph and the accompanying text vividly communicate the charm of Lake Hibara in Fukushima. It feels like a wonderful piece that can share the atmosphere of travel and the beauty of Japan’s seasonal changes with audiences overseas.
Photographs that capture an unspoken “sense of air” and subtle emotional shifts, elements that guidebooks often fail to convey, have a special way of stirring the desire to travel. For beautifully expressing the quiet serenity of Lake Hibara and the richness of time that flows there, I would like to award this work an Honorable Mention.
The flames, tracing the graceful curves of the terraces, quietly color the autumn night. This is more than a beautiful view; it feels like a landscape experienced with the heart. Unlike modern illuminations, the natural flicker and shadows created by fire carry a nostalgic warmth that gently envelops the scene.
Beneath a night sky watched over by stars and the moon, one can almost hear the insects chirping and the soft crackle of the flames by simply listening closely. The photograph conveys a sense of time flowing slowly, allowing visitors to face their own thoughts in the stillness.
This work, which lets viewers experience Japan’s traditions and natural beauty on a sensory level, has the power to make overseas audiences think, “This is the kind of Japan I would love to travel through.” With that feeling in mind, I would like to present this piece with an Honorable Mention.
Autumn in Hokkaido is fleeting. By the time these orange leaves begin to fall, the signs of the first snowfall are already close.
Precisely because this scenery can be seen only during such a brief moment, it leaves a lasting impression. Rather than relying on brilliance, this work conveys the season through stillness and depth, revealing a distinctly Japanese sense of autumnal beauty.
Calm and gentle, yet touched with a subtle sense of melancholy, this photograph quietly evokes the end of autumn. In recognition of its ability to convey that feeling, I would like to present this piece with an Honorable Mention.
Golden leaves form a canopy overhead, while softly fallen leaves spread across the ground like a gentle carpet. It is a scene that makes one feel calm and kind simply by walking through it.
Bathed in the mild autumn sunlight of Ibaraki, the vivid hues of the ginkgo leaves blend harmoniously with their surroundings, conveying the brightness and warmth that characterize autumn in Japan. This is a special moment that exists only during this season. Whether walking with someone or alone, the beauty lingers quietly in the heart.
Brilliant yet touched with a sense of nostalgia, this work delivers a soft emotion that arrives with the deepening of autumn. In recognition of that gentle impression, I would like to present this piece with an Honorable Mention.
The beauty of the spider lilies at Onrinji Temple in Gunma Prefecture truly lives up to its reputation as a “village of spider lilies.” A sense of tenderness found in nature, combined with quiet reverence, comes through softly in this photograph.
The photographer’s words, describing the stone Buddha as if it were gently murmuring, “The world is good just as it is,” are especially memorable. That warm interpretation gently relaxes the viewer’s heart and brings a quiet smile.
Autumn in Japan is not only beautiful. It also carries a feeling of nostalgia and a subtle presence of prayer. For overseas viewers, scenes like this offer a precious opportunity to encounter Japanese culture and the inner sensibilities of its people.
Blending nature, stillness, and a touch of gentle humor, this is a warm and deeply evocative work.
for all your submissions!
Click here to see posts from our community
Be sure to share this page with everyone!
The arch bridge glowing in the sunset and the expansive field of cosmos represent autumn in Japan at its most quintessential. It feels like an image that would resonate even with overseas audiences through travel brochures or inbound media, making them think, “This is the Japan I want to experience.”
Above all, the child’s unguarded expression and the gentle hues of the flowers held in hand quietly convey the warmth of both Japan’s nature and its people. This is a photograph that softly eases the viewer’s heart, allowing a tender, unhurried moment to flow. As an image that captures the charm of Japan’s four seasons and the excitement of travel, it truly feels worthy of the grand prize.