Heads up, photo fans! It’s time to announce the winner of our weekly photo contest.
The number of professional-quality photos we received this week was nothing short of staggering, and it took a long, long time for us to decide on one overall winner (and of course three very honourable mentions!), but here we go…
Back when we were kids and our teachers would say things like “it was really hard to choose a winner,” we always thought it was BS to make the rest of us feel better, but now we’re the ones choosing, it’s suddenly not so easy.
After a lot of deliberation, however, we’re happy to announce that the winner of this week’s Pic of the Week is Logan Hussey with this perfectly timed photo taken in Kyoto’s Gion District. Congrats, Logan!
A moment in Gion

Honorable mentions
But of course, there were many more photos that left us smiling or feeling all warm and tingly. Once again a big thank-you to everyone who entered this week; you guys really aren’t making this easy for us, but for that we’re incredibly happy. As ever, please don’t be disheartened if your photo didn’t make it onto our site today–you never know, it could be here next week!
Keep the great photos coming in, guys and girls!
Colourful Jizo at Zōjō-ji, Tokyo

The Hikawa Maru

The Sky People

Think you could do better? Have a pic that would blow all other entries out of the water? Let’s see it! Go here to read the rules and find out how to enter. Oh, and just so you know, as of next week we’ll be mixing things up a little by letting you, our dear readers, choose the winning photo, so check back from next Monday and vote, vote, vote!
Until the next time!
Pic of the Week, Round 4: Winner!!
Pic of the Week Round 3: WINNER!
Pic of the Week, Round 5: Winner!
Pic of the Week, Round 1: WINNER!
It’s time to vote for this week’s Pic of the Week!
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
Japanese workers reveal their top five mysterious rules they wish would disappear【Survey】
Japan’s Rabbit Island in danger of becoming Boar Island, tourists asked to follow feeding rules
Stay at a hotel with a bed for your plushie in Japan
A practical guide to freezing your boss’ hat in a block of ice [Photos]
Heavyweight ramen-style cheese fried chicken bowl appears in Tokyo, but is it genius or madness?
These Japanese contact lenses let you put anime characters on your eyes [Photos]
Japanese gacha machine in Shibuya now sells tiny capsule terrariums
Time-lapse footage shows just how fast rebuilding in Kumamoto can go
Kyoto shop turns traditional Japanese kimono into teddy bears, with special meaning hidden in their patterns
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
12-year-old foreign tourist missing in Japan, police asking for help finding her [Video]
Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
The Japanese city where ordering grilled chicken doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually get chicken
Japanese airlines set to cut fuel surcharges for international flights in September and October
Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
Tokyo sweets store has a “350% Pudding Soft Serve”, and people are going wild for it
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Pic of the Week: Hey you, it’s time to vote! 【Update: Poll now closed】
It’s time to vote, vote, vote for your favourite photo!
Share your photos with us! RocketNews24 is now accepting submissions for Pic of the Week
Winners of manga magazine beauty contest no longer appear in bikinis at awards ceremony
Hotties from history: the geisha of Japan’s first beauty pageant【Photos】
Age ain’t nothing but a number! Japanese beauty pageant for women over 35 crowns newest winner
Japanese high school boys hold annual beauty pageant, look as cute as ever【Pics】
The “beautiful boy” Mister Bishoujo Contest is over, but who was crowned the prettiest boy?【Pics】
11th annual Mister International contest crowns its most handsome winner【Photos】
Quiz of the Week: Round 9 (It’s like a comb-over for your soul)
Quiz of the Week: Round 6 (Now made with the tears of sad children*)
It’s huge!! Win a copy of The Anime Encyclopedia 3rd Revised Edition! 【Contest closed】
Honda Fit and Weekly Shonen Jump magazine create stunning Japanese itasha manga car【Pics】
Mysterious meat-faced man shows up amongst Tokyo university beauty pageant entrants
Japan’s muscle idol continues to turn heads with body that looks like it could crush stone 【Pics】