Back to 2000s! 📸 The Ultimate Guide to “Heisei” Style Purikura & Sanrio Collabs

If you come to Japan, you HAVE to try Purikura (photo booths). But forget the usual ones—right now, Japan is obsessed with “Heisei Retro,” and I found the absolute best machines that will take you back to the iconic gal era!

1. The “Uchira no Densetsu” (Our Legend) Machine

This machine is a total time machine to 2005! The backgrounds are filled with leopard prints, hibiscus flowers, and that specific “Gal” font we all loved. It even has a special mode that makes your skin look tan and your eyes pop just like a magazine model from egg or Popteen. It felt so nostalgic and cool!

2. Limited Edition: Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Collab

I also found the special Sanrio collaboration booth. Look at the screen—Kitty, My Melody, and Kuromi are all dressed up in their school uniforms with hibiscus flowers! This is a limited-time event, so if you see this pink booth with the giant Kitty face, don’t walk—RUN to it.

3. “Puri-cho” Nostalgia

In the 2000s, every girl in Japan had a “Puri-cho” (Purikura scrapbook). This machine lets you design your digital photos to look exactly like those old-school notebooks, complete with “AGE (アゲ)” stickers (meaning high tension/super hyped!) and messy handwriting.

⚠️ My Essential Tips for Success:

• Prepare your 100-yen coins! This is so important: Most machines do NOT take 500-yen coins. You need exactly five 100-yen coins to play. If you only have a 500-yen coin or a 1000-yen bill, look for the “Exchange Machine (両替機)” nearby before you get in line!

• Decide your poses early: You only have about 5 seconds between shots, so practice your “peace signs” and “Gal poses” in line!

• Download the app: Most machines now allow you to send the best shots directly to your phone for free.

Purikura is more than just a photo—it’s a piece of Japanese culture. Whether you want to be a 2000s gal or just want a cute souvenir with Kitty-chan, these booths are the ultimate “Kawaii” experience!