❤️ A huge thank you to everyone who participated!
With over 500 entries, you beautifully showcased the charm of Western Japan to the world and helped pave the way for the future of our local tourism.
Without further ado, we are thrilled to announce the winners of the WFTGA Convention 2026 Social Media Contest!
⭐Grand Prize Winner
- Kevin Earl: Click here to view his winning post
Prize: Round-trip airfare and a 2-night stay in Fukuoka.
Our judges* found that Kevin’s posts beautifully captured the intersection of Fukuoka’s traditional crafts and modern spirit, bringing the local culture to life for a global audience.
✨Regional Award Winners
These winners were selected for their ability to highlight the hidden gems and vibrant landscapes of their respective regions.
- Fukuoka Award
- Nick Gray – for his engaging and fun reels showcasing the city.
- Kyushu Award
- Mark King – for his sense of humor and authenticity in sharing his time spent in Kyushu.
- West Golden Route Award
- Julia Pavlovska Jilch – for capturing the many beautiful sides of Western Japan outside of Kyushu.
Prize per winner: 10,000 JPY Amazon Gift Card (final value in local currency is subject to the daily exchange rate at the time of processing).
All winners have been notified and have accepted their prizes. We and the judges thank everyone again for sharing their time in Japan with the world.
Special thanks as well to the City of Fukuoka for their support and for making this contest happen.
To discover the beautiful, lesser-known side of Japan, visit the Golden Route to West Japan initiative here for travel inspiration and resources.
Much Love,
The Host Committee
WFTGA Convention 2026
*Please note that the panel of judges for this contest is comprised of representatives from the local government. They’re independent of both the WFTGA and the Host Committee of the WFTGA Convention 2026, and their selection reflects their own evaluation of the entries based on the contest criteria.