Purikura, a short term for “Purinto Kurabu”, actually means Print Club that started in Japan in the ‘90s. There is no doubt Japan culture loves cute things and Purikura is one of the creative outlets producing extremely “kawaii” souvenir photographs.
Know Inside Out
Purikura is simply a photo booth that allows you to take digital images which you can edit afterwards and have the images printed as stickers. Popular among high school girls, Purikura is almost everywhere in Japan. Usually, you can find one in arcade places.
You can select from different photo booth machines having different themes. It is a fun activity for group of friends as everyone can participate in decorating the photo with the use of stylus or pen tool in a touch screen monitor. And take note, there are a lot of crazy options to choose from to edit the images! Printed in a sticker paper, several copies of the photos are generated that can be cut and shared.
Purikura at Joypolis in HEP (Hankyu Entertainment Park) Five Building
HEP located in Umeda in Osaka actually houses a hundred of fashion retail shops, restaurants and even amusement facilities such as Joypolis.
Joypolis offers arcade games, amusement rides and yes, Purikura. Here, they have several photo booth machines that you can enjoy. This is where our group get to try Purikura.
Fun Fact
- Apart from simply choosing background, editing of the photos can include changing the hair color, making the skin look brighter and smoother and even changing the shape of the eyes (and many more!).
- Several clip arts like hearts can be added in the photo as well. You can also write whatever text you like or draw freehand.
- When posing, you can even have the hair-flying-in-the-wind effect (may not be present in all machines).
- Sometimes, too much editing especially modifying your facial features can make your image look a little odd or strange.
- You can send a digital copy of the images to your e-mail.
How ToPurikura
- Step 1: Enter your chosen photo booth.
- Step 2: Put needed amount ofmoney in the machine to get started.
- Step 3: Once you drop that yen, you will be prompted to select some options (this may vary from one machine to another) to set up before (and after) your Purikura proper like background and photo layout. Every course of action is time limited so better make up your mind immediately otherwise the machine will choose a random option for you.
- Step 4: Nail the perfect poses! For those in groups, check if everyone fits in the screen. Be sure to project that best kawii image before the time lapses.
- Step 5: Now you’ve come to the coolest part, editing! Make those eyes bigger and skin fairer! Add some clip arts. Write messages or better yet, draw!
- Step 6: Wait for the machine to dispense the photo stickers.
- Step 7: Cut the photos and share with friends. There is a designated area (outside the booth) where you can cut the stickers.
Traveler’s Tips
- Be sure to get settled first before hitting start because every action is time constraint. Comb your hair and keep your bags or any unnecessary belongings out of the camera’s reach.
- Read the instructions and carefully (and quickly) select from the options given.
- If you run out of time choosing a specific option (e.g. photo layout), the machine will randomly pick one for you.
X-Factor
- Interactive, creative and fun.
- Perfect kawaii souvenir!
Money to Burn
JPY400
Hey, I had to admit, that is kinda chicky and cute. LOL. Yeah, Japanese do love cute things and pastel colors too. If there is someone looking to do business, this can be done in the Philippines too. I think we have many people here, young ones who like ‘cute’ and selfies. Why not a photo booth that does it better than selfies?
Leave it to the Japanese to always come up with the coolest things. Either that or they never fail to level up anything, even photo booths! I love the new features introduced by Purikura from the usual photo booth that we’re all used to. I won’t be surprised if this is such a huge hit amongst the ladies 🙂
This is so much fun! I would love to go visit one of these and just play around with it and see all the possibilities. I also think it would be a complete blast to go to it with a lot of my friends. Sometimes a little photo booth that you can customize like that can create a million memories!
Purikura i think is the mother of the photo booths here in PH right now. We have some that resembles that in arcades here too but for sure the ones in Japan are more hi-tech. Hehe.
What can’t you find in Japan? I am actually going to Japan next year with friends and I am looking forward to experience all these cute things that you can find there. I think it will be fun to go to an arcade and take some silly pictures of us to make stickers out of.
Whoop whoop , that looks like a day full of fun ! I could spend hours in there , I am sure . I anyway love photo editing , but in such a great surrounding it will be even more fun . Great decoration items , a bit Alice in Wonderland feeling 🙂 Lovely post !
Oh, this is so cute! I hope I can visit Japan too someday. There are similar photo booths here, in Timezone (I think), but I honestly think that they’re overpriced. As a workaround, I do post photo edit instead. I want to try this one though, for experience 🙂
Haha. This is cute. Would want to see how i Look with different hair styles. Going to Japan is still on my next stop list.
I wonder how I’d look like with doll eyes hahaha… With that thought alone I’d like to try Purikura.
This looks just like snapchat with instant stickers. But these photo booths with sticker prints existed years ago. I think it’s just about time that it evolved to something like this. I’m looking forward to what would they think of next. My daughter loves looking at herself on snapchat by the way so I know why this looks fun.
I thought you’re reviewing a new store in PH. As an entrepreneur, since our population thrives w/ young people, this photo booth biz can be a hit.