Submit your photos to the #JUMPintoSpring contest

JUMP is sponsoring a new #JUMPintoSpring photo contest. We’re gathering photos that show how Americans enjoy the beautiful sights of spring while stationed in Japan. The #JUMPintoSpring photo contest is open to JUMP members of all ages and skill levels, current and retired military, family, friends, and anyone in between.

For many service members and their families, spring in Japan can be a magical experience with gorgeous natural views, lively festivals, and fun vacations. Japan just finished a record-setting Golden Week and millions of people got the opportunity to travel. After such a long and bitter winter, spring provides opportunities to leave base and explore. Some people find parks to host hanami parties or go fishing on a solitary lake in the mountains. On base, the warm weather and sweet smell of flowers give the perfect excuse to stroll outside or play some sports with Japanese neighbors.

Please note that by submitting your photos to a JUMP photo contest, you are giving permission for them to be used on the JUMP website and social media. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to view photos from earlier contests and to see this year’s winning entries.

How to Enter

Join the JUMP network. Only JUMP members will be eligible to win. If you haven’t already, click here to sign up. 

Submit your photos. You can email them to JUMP@spfusa.org. Or post them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and tag them with #JUMPintoSpring and @JUMProgram.

Deadline

The deadline for submissions is June 15.

Prizes

The winner will receive a gift basket valued at $100 in goodies, or a ticket good for five days of unlimited local train rides in Japan, and will see his or her photo featured on the JUMP website and social media accounts. We’ll also display our favorite submissions in an online photo gallery and at our JUMP events in Washington, D.C.

JUMP is sponsoring our fourth annual #HolidaysinJapan photo contest. We’re gathering photos that show how Americans — past and present — celebrate the holidays while stationed in Japan. The #HolidaysinJapan photo contest is open to JUMP members of all ages and skill levels, current and retired military, family, friends, and anyone in between.

For many service members and their families, celebrating the holidays in Japan is a highlight of their tour in Japan. The season provides many opportunities to leave base and explore, to view spectacular light displays in cities and parks or sample takoyaki and yakisoba while browsing for shime-kazari at outdoor New Year’s markets. On base, neighbors compete for most spirited holiday display in their front yards and make the effort to share American traditions with their Japanese neighbors.

Please note that by submitting your photos to a JUMP photo contest, you are giving permission for them to be used on the JUMP website and social media. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to view photos from earlier contests and to see this year’s winning entries.

How to Enter

Join the JUMP network. Only JUMP members will be eligible to win. If you haven’t already, click here to sign up. 

Submit your photos. You can email them to JUMP@spfusa.org. Or post them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and tag them with #HolidaysinJapan and @JUMProgram.

Deadline

The deadline for submissions is January 15.

Prizes

The winner will receive a gift basket valued at $100 in goodies, and will see his or her photo featured on the JUMP website and social media accounts. We’ll also display our favorite submissions in an online photo gallery and at our annual JUMP dinner in Washington DC.

Pictured is last year’s #HolidaysinJapan winning entry of Mount Fuji by Jennifer Cox. 

We’ve selected a winner for JUMP’s third annual #HolidaysInJapan photo contest. We were impressed by the quality and beauty of the photos submitted to this year’s contest and had a difficult time choosing just one winner from the many outstanding entries.
This year’s winning entry came from Jennifer Cox, who is currently living at Yokosuka Naval Base with her active-duty husband and three children. Jennifer was a runner-up in last year’s photo contest. This year, her submission features a spectacular view of Mount Fuji taken from the outdoor terrace of a family restaurant in Hayama, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Here’s how she described the scene:

“In the wintertime, the cool air makes for very clear skies; the terrace had a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji and the torii gate in the water of the Sagami Bay created a picture-perfect setting. I was having an early dinner with my husband and three children and patiently waited until sunset to capture the image.”

Congratulations Jennifer! For winning, she will receive a gift basket valued at $100 in goodies.

We also selected two runner-up entries. Johanne Shelton, a military spouse who is also stationed in Yokosuka with her husband and three children, submitted a snowy family photo taken at Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort in Nagano Prefecture, and Joshua Simmons shared a beautiful daytime view of Mount Fuji from Arakura Sengen Shrine in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Johanne and Joshua’s photos can be viewed in the top row of the gallery below. We loved seeing all the submitted photos, and we have selected a few of our favorites out of the more than 50 entries this year for our gallery. Thank you to everyone who sent in entries!

Japan can be an amazing place for American service members and their families to experience during the holiday season. We’d love to see your photos, whether you venture out to enjoy the spectacular light displays in cities and parks, sample the takoyaki and yakisoba while browsing for shime-kazari at an outdoor New Year’s market, or compete against your neighbors on base for most spirited holiday display in your front yard.

JUMP is sponsoring our third annual #HolidaysInJapan photo contest. We’re gathering photos that show how Americans — past and present — celebrate the holidays while stationed in Japan. The #HolidaysinJapan photo contest is open to all ages and skill levels, current and retired military, family, friends, and anyone in between.

To submit your photos, email them to JUMP@spfusa.org or submit them to us on Facebook or Twitter. To be eligible to win, you also must join the JUMP network. Tag all social media entries with #HolidaysinJapan and @JUMProgram! The deadline for submissions is January 15.

The winner will receive a gift basket valued at $100 in goodies, and see their photo featured on the JUMP website and social media accounts. We’ll also display our favorite submissions in a photo gallery.

Please note that by submitting your photos to a JUMP photo contest, you are giving permission for them to be used on the JUMP website and social media.

Pictured is last year’s #HolidaysinJapan winning entry of Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen shrine by Lauren Shaft.