What Is Purikura? A Guide to Japan's Photo Booth Culture

Last updated: June 26, 2026

A day in the life of Tokyo college student

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Have you ever heard of Purikura, a machine that takes pictures that Japanese people, especially those who want to look cute, are obsessed with?

Quick Answer:
Purikura (プリクラ) is short for “Print Club,” a type of Japanese photo booth that takes enhanced, decorated photos. Popular since 1995, especially among high school girls, these booths let you beautify your photos, add text and stamps, and print them as stickers. Modern versions like “97%” aim for a natural, less artificial look.

What Is Purikura? (Print Club Explained)

The official name of Purikura is Print Club. The abbreviation was made by Japanese people who love to shorten words, like calling Starbucks “Sutaba” or McDonald’s “Makudo.”

Purikura has been popular since 1995 and grew incredibly popular among high school girls.

I am now a 22-year-old university student, but when I was in high school, I used to take Purikura very often, with friends after cultural festivals, sports festivals, and even on ordinary days after school. As a college student now, Purikura has become a kind of sanctuary I only sneak into once in a while.

How to Take Purikura: Step by Step

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There are so many different types of Purikura booths, and each has its own concept. The difference lies in how the photos are taken. Some make your face appear clear and vivid, while others give you a soft, dreamy look.

After the photos are taken, you move to an editing screen. You can freely decorate the photos with text and designs, and even edit your eyes, lips, or anything else you like. You add alphanumeric characters of your choice, such as your name, nickname, or an anniversary date, to make the pictures memorable.

Finally, the photos are printed as stickers, often in a trading-card style that is popular on social media, ready to slip into your phone case.

The Latest Purikura Trends: The “97%” Booth

Recently, I have been investigating the latest Purikura. The newest booth is called “97%.” The name comes from the idea that the photos are not 100% artificially enhanced, but keep that last 3% for a natural look.

The latest machines also have features popular among young people, such as tattoo stickers and the ability to color part of your hair to subtly change your look. In Japan, many people cannot have real tattoos due to school rules, so this function lets them enjoy a temporary style that matches their outfit for the day.

In short, Purikura is a fantasy-making machine that creates an ideal through processing. The key these days is to create a “natural” look that hides the photoshopped parts, but sometimes it is not a bad idea to simply enjoy an enhanced version of yourself.