In this article, we spoke to MURAYU (@murayu_12) and takumatravel (@takumatravel), who provide information as JAL travel reporters, about what goes on behind the scenes of their posts, such as how to enjoy traveling and how to take attractive photos.
*Masks are removed only for photo shoots.
The scenery, people, and food I encounter on my travels give me a sense of being alive and excitement.
MURAYU's posting style is to add friendly, diary-like text to soft-colored photos that capture "heart-fluttering moments." Meanwhile, takumatravel, who calls himself "a talker of spectacular views and enthusiastic travel," introduces areas and spots that are rarely explored on other trips. We first asked these two people, who travel regularly, about the appeal of traveling.
MURAYU: "When I travel, I feel truly alive. I encounter vast natural scenery, warm-hearted people, and the different flow of time depending on the place. It's those moments when my heart is moved that make me think, 'I'm glad to be alive!' I think that's the charm of traveling."
takumatravel: "Traveling is an extraordinary experience, but for the locals it's everyday life. I like traveling because I get to experience that difference. Whether I'm traveling overseas or in Japan, I get excited when I experience a different lifestyle with my five senses, living in a place or eating food that I can't imagine as a person living in the Kanto region."
As the two of them said, the fun of traveling is the discoveries and impressions that you can't encounter in your everyday life. It seems that the process leading up to visiting a place is what brings out the individuality of each person.
Contrary to his calm personality, MURAYU is an intuitive person. He often travels spontaneously, such as "I want to see wild animals, so I'll go to Africa." "I'm not the type to plan my trips in detail. I keep potential destinations in mind, but I like to decide depending on how I feel that day (laughs)."
Takumatravel is also known for spontaneous trips, but he says he does something before he leaves. "I like to look at a map in advance, plan my itinerary and transportation, and think about where I can see this view. It's like going on a trip and checking the answers."
The scenery you encounter during your travels are posted on your Instagram accounts, but is there anything you keep in mind when taking photographs?
MURAYU: "I want to take photos that stimulate the five senses. For example, if the sky at dusk is beautiful, I want to capture the entire space, including the sky and the city. When I go to Southeast Asia, I want to include the spicy smells and the noisy atmosphere of honking car horns, so I consider the background and composition accordingly."
takumatravel: "Varying your eye height may be something you do regularly. For example, lowering your eye height to the ground to emphasize the majesty of a building, or using a drone to get a bird's-eye view from above to show the blue of the ocean. Varying the height allows you to take bold shots, which I think will result in more powerful images."
Memories of "#MisawaTrip" are "the fusion of the city and art" and "the surreal cityscape"
The first destination as a JAL travel reporter was Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture. While takumatravel said, "I've been to Misawa three or four times in the past on family trips," it was MURAYU's first time going to Aomori Prefecture. What was his impression of Misawa City after actually visiting it?
MURAYU: "I had a strong image of fish in Tohoku, but the meat was delicious as well. The nature is vast and the people are warm. It was a trip that moved me in ways I can't put into words. The fusion of the city and art, including the Towada Art Center, was wonderful, and I felt it was a place I'd want to live in."
takumatravel: "I mainly visited places I had never been to before, but what really caught my attention was the number of monuments standing throughout the city. There was a beauty salon that had a 2-3 meter tall Gundam head and body on display, and a park with the Statue of Liberty standing there. I enjoyed the surrealism of it all. It was something out of the ordinary for me, but a part of the everyday life of the locals."
It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to fly from Haneda Airport to Misawa Airport. This was takumatravel's first time flying to Aomori, and he was surprised at how close it was, saying, "I wonder why I never flew there before." MURAYU also said, "I had the impression that Tohoku was far away, so I'm glad that the distance has narrowed."
The photo he posted on Instagram with the hashtag "#MisawaTrip" seems to have received a lot of attention.
takumatravel: "The photo of the clay figurine at Kizukuri Station was particularly well received by my followers, with comments like, 'Where did you find it from?' and 'I'll definitely go there.' I was happy to see those reactions, so I responded by sending additional information in comments and DMs, like, 'It has seven-colored lasers coming out of its eyes,' and 'If you include the long line of shops in front of the station in your photo, it will be an impressive shot.'"
MURAYU: "The photos from our trip to Misawa were saved more than our regular posts, and I get the impression that people want to look at them again later and want to visit. We also get a lot of comments like, 'I didn't know there was a place like this,' and I feel that we've been able to convey its charm to people who think that Tohoku is far away. I'd be happy if our posts made people who have never been to Aomori Prefecture want to go."
As a JAL travel reporter, I want to deliver "useful information" and "real excitement"
It's been almost a year since you started working as a JAL Travel Reporter. What do you find interesting about this program?
MURAYU: "It's very refreshing to be able to convey the appeal of travel, including the means of transportation such as airplanes. I consider the process of getting to a travel destination, the travel time and method of travel to be an important part of the journey, and I want to convey that as well, so I feel that working as a JAL travel reporter is a good fit for me."
takumatravel: "Not only was it fun to go to places I'd never been to before, but it was also interesting to see the posts of other travel reporters. Each reporter had a different perspective, such as Tabikibun (@tabi_kibun), who limited himself to the Misawa area, and Yuki@Tokyo (@youkixxx), who took large photos of the sky. Even though we went to the same places, we made a lot of discoveries."
Finally, we asked her what she would like to do in the future as a JAL travel reporter.
MURAYU: "I love flying in the sky on an airplane, so I'd like to focus on those moments and introduce them to you. If possible, I'd like to listen to the stories of people involved in JAL flights, take into account their thoughts, and then convey useful information to my followers from my own perspective."
takumatravel: "I want to continue posting photos, but I also want to speak in my own words, so I want to make more use of videos. For example, when I get to ride a new aircraft, I think it would be interesting to be able to deliver my real voice and excitement in a live broadcast."
JAL travel reporters share the joys of travel and useful information for their followers from their own perspectives. Each and every post is filled with their passion for travel. They have also shown their eagerness to broaden their horizons and engage in even more activities in the future. Please continue to look forward to their posts and activities, and use them as reference for your next trip.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
