Purikura (プリクラ) are the photo-sticker booths you'll spot in just about every Japanese game arcade. The machine takes a few quick shots, lets you decorate them, and prints a sheet of glossy stickers within minutes.
You can also save the photos to your phone, so the session doubles as an easy souvenir from your trip.
A few things catch first-timers off guard, though. The screens are almost all in Japanese, each step runs on a timer, and the camera quietly changes how your face looks. Some arcades also limit who is allowed inside.
So before you duck behind the curtain, it helps to know the prices, the flow, the face editing, how to get your photos onto your phone, and the entry rules.
A session runs about ¥500, and the machines take coins rather than cards. The shooting is fast with no time to redo a shot, so commit to each pose from the start.
What a Purikura Session Costs (and How to Pay)
Expect to pay around ¥500 for one session, though there is no single nationwide price.
Booths used to run about ¥400, but these days the cost varies by machine and arcade. Collaboration machines tied to characters or sports teams can run closer to ¥600. The surest way to know is to read the price on the screen in front of you.
Most machines take coins dropped straight into a slot, so keep some change on hand.
If all you have is a ¥1,000 note, most arcades have a change machine nearby to break it into coins. A few booths take e-money or QR-code payment, but it varies by machine, so carry cash and check the on-screen display for what is accepted.
One session usually costs the same no matter how many people squeeze in, so splitting it with friends brings the price per person right down.
For more on handling money day to day, see How to Pay in Japan.
From Choosing a Machine to Collecting Your Stickers
A purikura session follows a set order: choose, shoot, decorate, collect. Walk up to any free machine, and because the flow never changes, first-timers can just follow the prompts on screen.
You start on the outside of the machine, where you pick a shooting course and the number of people, then pay. Next you step into a curtained booth and strike poses as the screen guides you.
There is a time limit, and you will usually take several shots in a row while changing poses. On FURYU's (フリュー) CENTI:U machine, released in 2026, you get about 200 seconds and up to 18 shots.
When the shooting ends, you move to a separate decorating area the booths call rakugaki (らくがき, "doodling"). Here you add stamps, text, and backgrounds to the photos. This step is timed too, and the length depends on the machine.
Once you are done, the stickers print and come out from a slot on the outside of the machine. The sheet is divided into small frames, and you can trim them apart with the scissors provided.
Printing takes a moment, so use the wait to start sending the photos to your phone.
Why Your Face Looks Different: The Automatic Beauty Edit
The machine changes your face on its own. Most booths automatically brighten and smooth your skin and make your eyes look bigger the instant the photo is taken.
The result is the "moreru" (盛れる) look, more polished than your bare face.
On some machines you can steer that result a little. Where skin brightness, texture, and eye size are adjustable, you can dial the effect down if it feels too strong, or keep it subtle if you would rather look natural.
How much you can change depends on the machine, so check the settings screen before you shoot if it matters to you.
Getting Your Photos onto Your Phone (Pictlink)
Purikura doesn't stop at the printed stickers. You can also save the shots as images on your phone. On FURYU machines, this runs through a service called Pictlink (ピクトリンク).
To send the shots to your phone, choose the phone-link option when the machine offers it on screen. Scan the QR code it shows with your phone camera to open the Pictlink page in your browser.
You only link your phone once per session. Pictlink runs in your phone browser (Safari on iPhone, the default browser on Android), so it does not work on a PC or tablet.
You save the shots with a free Pictlink account. If you want to pull a larger batch at once, there is a paid Premium plan at ¥550 per month or ¥5,400 per year (tax included; prices may change).
Check the official site for how to sign up and the exact limits on free saves.
If you want the photos on your phone, run the QR link right after decorating. You can tap through it while the stickers print, so none of your booth time goes to waste.
If you are using a machine from a maker other than FURYU, the app for the transfer may be different. The screen will tell you which app or service to use, so follow the prompts.
Where to Find Purikura, and the Entry Rules
Purikura mostly live inside game arcades and amusement complexes. Chains like GiGO, Taito Station, and namco almost always have a purikura corner.
In Osaka's Umeda district, the namco HEP FIVE branch packs 40 print-sticker machines into one location. That earned it the Guinness World Record for the most photo-sticker booth machines at a single venue (certified November 2020).
One point to watch: some arcades set entry rules. Certain stores or corners post signs reading "women only" or "men allowed only when accompanied by a woman," a crime-prevention measure.
It is not every store, but if you are a group of men on your own, check the sign at the entrance to the corner and follow it.
You can shoot solo, but Japanese purikura is really built for two or more people. With a friend or family member along, the on-screen prompts and pose cues are far easier to use.
If you are after more arcade fun, Gachapon: A Guide to Japan's Capsule Toy Machines is another easy one to try.
The Same Basic Flow on Any Machine
There are plenty of machine models, but the core steps are the same on all of them. Even when the prompts are only in Japanese, the on-screen pictures and illustrations make it easy to work out what to do.
If you get stuck, just ask a staff member.
This article was translated from the original Japanese with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team. The Japanese version is authoritative.
