Goshuin and Stamp Rallies: A Traveler’s Guide

Today, we hosted a short visit from a friend who came all the way from the Netherlands. We took her for a hike up Mount Kinka to Nobunaga’s Castle here in Gifu. The weather was perfect—clear blue skies and about 21 degrees Celsius. We had a fantastic time together, and during our outing, I learned something new from her.

She has been traveling around Japan for over a week and mentioned a unique activity that amazed me: people collect stamps at temples, tourist spots, and even train stations throughout Japan. At first, I gave her a blank stare, thinking she was talking about postage stamps, but that wasn’t the case at all. She pulled out a booklet showing all the stamps she had gathered from various locations, and I was genuinely surprised that I had never heard of this common Japanese tradition.

In Japan, this stamp collection activity is known as goshuin (御朱印) for temples and shrines, and eki stamp rally (駅スタンプラリー) or simply stamp rally (スタンプラリー) for other sites.

Goshuin: These beautiful stamps are given at temples and shrines, often featuring calligraphy from the monk or priest. They include the temple’s name, the date of the visit, and some spiritual inscriptions. Travelers often collect these stamps in a special book called a goshuincho (御朱印帳), which becomes a treasured item for pilgrims and visitors alike.
Stamp Rally: Outside of religious sites, collecting commemorative stamps at tourist locations, train stations, and other attractions is termed a stamp rally. Various Japanese railway companies and venues organize seasonal or themed stamp rallies, offering visitors a chance to gather unique stamps at each stop.

Just as we dropped our friend off at the Hashima Gifu train station, she immediately spotted a stamp that I had never noticed before. It turns out she has a knack for finding these treasures and added another stamp to her growing collection.

It’s fascinating to discover that stamp collecting is such a popular pastime here in Japan. This practice adds an element of adventure to traveling and visiting various venues. Personally, I’m glad to have learned about stamp rallies and goshuin. I might even consider getting a goshuincho or an empty booklet for the eki stamp rally myself—still undecided, but it’s a possibility!

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