Collecting Eki Stamps in Japan
Stamp rallies and collecting eki stamps is one of the most fun ways to commemorate your Japan trip, as well as a great activity to build upon your planned itinerary. Eki stamps are simply ‘station stamps’, rubber seals that you can collect at train stations across Japan, but also at temples, museums, castles, parks and many key tourist attractions.
About eki stamps
The tradition began in 1931 at Fukui Station to encourage local tourism, and has evolved to become a country-wide tradition. With over 9,000 train stations across Japan, it could become quite the quest and provides never-ending fun.
Each design is unique to the station – often featuring a landmark of some sort – and, often, stations release limited-edition and seasonal stamps. I’d imagine there are some gorgeous sakura designs and pink ink pads during cherry blossom season! Stamp rallies often come with their own collector’s books or passports, but you can use any notebook. I packed my Traveler’s Notebook with a plain insert for our trip.
How to collect eki stamps
It’s super easy to collect eki stamps. Pack your notebook and be prepared to wander around train stations as you go about your daily travels. You’ll often find a stamp counter or desk near the ticket gates, station master’s office, or at tourist information centres. They’ll be self-inked, or have an ink pad on the desk. I’d recommend carrying a pen so you can add the date that you found the stamp! And, if you’re planning on journaling with your stamps, consider taking loose-leaf paper to stamp an extra time, so you can cut this out and add to your journal spreads!
There are also stamp rallies at several tourist attractions: we embarked on the World Expo 2025 one, but there were so many to collect that we didn’t complete it. I’d recommend searching online before heading out, since some castles will hold multiple stamps and there could be a seasonal event in the city. If you’re really interested, you can download the Stamp Quest app too.
Why collect stamps?
Well, it’s really fun! It’s a great way to commemorate your trip, and it’s also a really sweet, homegrown way to connect with a slice of Japan’s history. I love peeking at mine and remembering how fun it was to hunt for stamps around each city we travelled to!
Some temples also have Goshuin – temple and shrine stamps. For these, you’ll need to buy a Goshuincho (stamp book) and be prepared to pay a little to receive a unique hand-painted red ink stamp and inscription. Goshuin are different to eki stamps in that they are considered sacred, a form of spiritual connection with the gods. They’re believed to have originated during the Nara period as a ‘receipt’ for making an offering at temples.
