Rugby Gallery
Through our SNS campaign, we received around a 1000 submissions of people sharing photos and videos of their experiences in Japan and their fondest memories of Rugby World Cup 2019.Our rugby legends went through all of the pictures and chose 80 of the very best. Come check out the photos for yourself and see if they don’t inspire you to make your own journeys around Japan!
Campaign Results
The BEST Japanese dish that I had in Japan
We asked participants to post photos and videos of the best Japanese dish that they ate during their stay. The winners in this category had a chance to win prizes that included fancy lacquered chopsticks and rugby ball-shaped chopstick rest or food replicas.
Sushi in Japan! yummy
This was the best, made in a little bar in Hiroshima in front of us. Hiroshima's most famous food is its own style of okonomiyaki.
Sapporo seafood ramen was the best Japanese food I ate during my stay.
Fantastic day trying Okonomiyaki for the first time in Yokohama with our Japanese friends. We loved it.
I ate many delicious japanese foods but the most delicious was sushi which has an unmatchable taste.
The best dish I had on my short Tokyo trip was the A5 Wagyu at Ginza steak.
We had Kobe beef in Osaka and had tons of fun trying different street foods
The best egg I ever had!! Was able to eat with the whole family back then at Hakone
Another dish not to miss would be the kushikatsu!!! Not to forget of course—- NO DOUBLE DIPPING IN THE SAUCE POT!
Okonomiyaki and takoyaki made by our Japanese friends
Home of the best and delicious ramen! Only in Japan!
Fresh Tuna skewers at Tsukiji Market in Toyko. Delicious!
Best food ever
Best dish I had in Japan.
The best thing I had during my stay...chanpon. Tasty, creamy and smoky taste!
Sushi
My very first time to eat an original ramen in Japan and first time to use chopstick!
Okonomiyaki times after visit Hiroshima World Peace Museum. We watched Okonomiyaki making process live. Oishiiii…
We love to eat out to sushiro hamamatsu branch!
The BEST tourist spot that I visited in Japan
We asked participants to post photos and videos of the best tourist spot that they visited in Japan. The winners in this category had a chance to win prizes that included custom-made ukiyo-e.
Yamada Beach, Kamaishi, Iwate
Bamboo Grove at Kyoto
Shibuya Crossing - “Lost in Tokyo”
One of my wonderful experiences here in Japan was when I climbed Mt.Fuji together with my boyfriend and his friend...It was a great experience to be treasured on.
One of the best must have been standing at the top of Mt Arashiyama.
The ramen noodle alley in Sapporo was one of my favourites. It is a hidden gem, and when we visited the alley and all it’s eateries were full of people either eating of waiting to get a chair.
We visit here in iya valley khazurabasi this place is beautiful lots of activities we did it
Beautiful moment on the Tokyo Skytree, like if time were suspended above the ground.
The town of Narita is a hidden gem I loved it so much to see and a beautiful temple
The most amazing place I have visited was Mount Aso in Kumamoto. It was the best view where you can see the big crater and have opportunity to take photo with it
I visited many wonderful places during my visit to Japan but above all I enjoyed niko boating area the most.
Chinatown Yokohama
Nukumori no mori is the best place for me. Seems like I was in a fairytale during my visit here. So much fun with the unique views. We felt like a Princess
I'm particularly pleased with this. Captured in one go on my phone, compared to the 10 minutes I spent getting a similar shot on my DSLR!
Visited Hill of hope in kōsanji last sept.22,2019..
Visiting the magnificent Himeji Castle... Rather than taking the same photo as everybody else I was able to capture it's reflection.
Up early to watch the eponymous "rising sun" on a short break between Tokyo matches at Shirahama Beach.
The MOST memorable experience that I had in Japan
We asked participants to post photos and videos of the most memorable experience that they had in Japan. The winners in this category had a chance to win prizes that included tokyo goods signed by famous former rugby players or rugby jerseys/polo shirts signed by famous former rugby players.
Wearing Yukata is the most memorable experience here in Japan.
So much wonderful food to enjoy between rugby games!
One of many photos asked to be taken with me during a Wales game!
Sunflower season is my favorite time in japan...!!!
Playing Taiko with a maiko
Amazing Hanabi Tai Kai, so beautiful
My ODAIBA journey! It's so sugoooi to see the moving lights in TeamLab!
Loved nara
Meeting Josh Navidi on our first day in Tokyo them going to the Wales v Australia game
Meeting Italian supporters in Shizuoka for the Match South Africa vs Italy
Our best experience was when an older Japanese gentleman wished our team luck for the tournament and thanked us for visiting his city, Sapporo. What makes Japan most spectacular is its people. Nihon, domo arigato.
Shirakawago Gifu Toyama Ken UNESCO world heritage was 250 years old and the location Shooting of movie the Last Samurai of Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. Its really far but worthy real great memories!!
My most memorable experience was just about every Japanese person we met being so very helpful and welcoming.
Tokyo Disneysea is one of the best and memorable moment in my life actually too many to mention. But this one is the most memorable experience/moment in my life.
Trekking at Japan Alps Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
This traditional "nagashi somen" is one of the very fun and interesting
Visiting Hiroshima has got to be one of the hardest places I have ever visited but an important lesson in history was learnt so I'm so glad I did.... love wins!
In Kumagaya city, this boys and girls invited us to take a picture with them, using this traditional clothing... Wonderful experience, and very very nice people!!
Woke up at 4am to climb up to Takeda Castle Ruins. Thought I was going to die 1/3 the way up. But I made it and got some great sunrise pics. No regrets and would climb again.
When I was highschool how I'd wish to come to Japan, but I thought its just only a dream.. God was soo good, if its for you it is..
The first time I make towel art at Japan for the Vip guest to celebration Wedding aniversary at Hilton Niseko Viilage Hotel.
Reaching the summit of Mt Fuji, being unfit and super under prepared
I witnessed and participated in the craziness of the Okinawa Giant Tug-of-war Festival held annually in Naha.
Proud of the Scotland team tonight - it was so hot and humid but you came out roaring tonight!! You guys are amazing!!!
The BEST plays from rugby games
We asked participants to post photos and videos of the best play of rugby games. The winners in this category had a chance to win prizes that included rugby jerseys/ polo shirts signed by famous former players. A contemporary Ukiyo-e illustrator NAGA has drawn some illustrations based on the selected photos/videos. Let's take a look below!
Being here for my Team Fiji
Japan vs Russia. Matsushima rocks on the game.
Breathtaking stadium. Best location. Kamaishi iwate.
The best thing about the rugby games has to be the atmosphere. The roof on Sapporo dome kept in the noise, creating a wonderful sound of a truly international crowd. All singing, cheering, and enjoying the spectacle of the sport regardless of where they were from and who they were supporting, the real values of rugby. Here's my 11 year old on local TV outside the dome before the England V Tonga match.
It wasn't RWC, but watching the JSDF team play was pretty cool.
Had Fun watched Rugby Games at Kumamoto near new opened mall Sakura Machi. La France a joué au rugby.
I am torn between two best rugby plays. One must of course be the japan team run so far in the competition, beating Ireland, and Russia, and now in close competition to go through to quarter finals. They are an excellent team, and I hope their success will help the sport to grow in japan. ....and talking if growing ......the other best play us the one in the photograph. It was a giant rugby player touching down when we arrived in Yokohama, just outside the shopping centre. I think he will be the biggest player in the World Cup!!
South Africa fans partying with the beautiful Japanese people will be my special rugby moment in Shizuoka
Bit of an update but here’s a quick vid of japan beating Scotland in an Aussie bar called ‘the Australian pub’ in Osaka! Was a memorable moment for sure!!!! They even had steinlager beer, four and twenty aussie pies, bundy rum, many uk whiskey brands and huge amounts of rugby fans flooding out into the street! Was amazing and glad to be in Japan for that win!
The best rugby play in my opinion was the comeback made by Japan against Ireland.
In a pub in Kyoto watching Japan beat Ireland. The Irish were not happy with their team! The picture is worth a thousand words.
The atmosphere at the stadium after Japan scored a successful penalty at the Japan VS South Africa
Best moments meeting with colleagues away from home and add a little island flavor to the games with singing and cheering
Winners comments
Below are several comments from our happy winners.
Yehheyyy I won! So happy to receive a message that I am one of the few who won the rugby give aways! Super love it. Exact timing that we explore fruit park in Hamamatsu what a great day yeheeeyyyyy!
Yeaaayy!!! I’m very excited, I’m the lucky winner for sharing Japan moments.
Thank you for selecting my entry in your campaign.
I never expected this but thank you for choosing me on your campaign so glad to be part of it. Continue to share and spread sports awareness.
Yaayyyy love you japan, will visit you a thousand times more.
Japan beating the Irish. Such a great win!
Omg!!!!! Thank you all so much at Japan Sports Journey!!!! Postman just arrived and beaming with joy with what was inside the package!!! Amazing!!!!
Thank you so much! It is a pleasure to be part of this campaign and I have no words to say how happy I am for winning. Thank you!
I am so happy to be selected as a winner for this campaign. When I posted the photos it just recalled my happy memories. Thank you so much Japan Sports Journey for this campaign.
Japan is such a serene place that I’m was so fortunate to be in and Kamaishi was just so beautiful. Despite the tsunami the ocean and the people and the country is still so beautiful.
Having spent 7 weeks in Japan to watch the Rugby World Cup I was able to travel extensively throughout Japan, from Sapporo in the North to Okinawa in the South. In addition to the host cities, I was able to visit, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the highland around Nikko. Everywhere I traveled I was lucky to meet wonderful and friendly Japanese locals and to see and experience fantastic sites (including the Shuri Castle which unfortunately was destroyed a couple of weeks after my visit).
I'm a Japan lover and it was a pleasure for me to share one of my magical moments in that wonderful place. Happy you like my picture! Thank you very much.
Wow this is amazing I'm so excited and happy!! Arigato Gozaimasu!! The Rugby World in Japan was the best place my husband and I have visited from the beautiful places to the amazing people!!
Feeling great to be one of the selected winners in your competition, great to have met some great rugby players from all over the world during RWC in Japan. Most rugby players are so ruthless on the field but are a gentleman off the field.
Campaign Overwiew
Campaign Prizes
Fancy Lacquered Chopsticks and Rugby ball-shaped Chopstick Rests
A fancy chopsticks store, located in Ginza, which is one of the fanciest central shopping districts in Tokyo, produced special chopsticks and chopstick rests exclusively for this campaign.
For 10 people amongst all the people who post a picture or video about theme 1.
Food Replicas
These food replicas look exactly like the real ones! They are popular souvenirs amongst tourists in Japan.
For 10 people amongst all the people who post a picture or video about theme 1.
Custom-made Ukiyo-e
NAGA, a contemporary Ukiyo-e illustrator in Japan, drew an Ukiyo-e ‘Rugby game in Tokyo’.
For 20 people amongst all the people who post a picture or video about theme 2.
Signed Tokyo Goods
Tokyo suveniors jointly developed by Tokyo Metropolitan Government and local businesses.
For 10 people amongst all the people who post a picture or video about theme 3.
Signed Rugby Jerseys/ Polo Shirts
Jerseys of the Australian or French national team; or Polo shirts of the English national team signed by the famous former rugby players of the respective teams.
For 10 people amongst all the people who post a picture or video about theme 3, and for 20 people amongst all the people who post a picture or video about theme 4.
Rules and Regulations
- To win a prize, the post must be posted from September 20th to November 2nd.
- The picture or video you posted may be used on our website Japan Sports Journey. ( https://www.sportsjourney.jp/ )
- We will contact the winners individually through Messenger in November.
- This campaign has nothing to do with Facebook, Inc. Facebook, Inc. does not support or administer this campaign. A complete release of Facebook by each entrant or participant is necessary to enter this contest.