The Ultimate Stamp Hunt Guide: Japan’s Coolest Free Souvenir
- Lourdes
- Apr 17
- 7 min read
Forget about postcards or magnets, Japan hides its best (and completely free!) souvenir in plain sight at nearly every train station, and most travelers miss it. Welcome to the world of stamps: a quirky tradition that turns your trip into an adventure and your notebooks into one-of-a-kind travel journals.
Since moving to Japan, collecting stamps has become one of my favorite hobbies, and a travel tip I love sharing with visitors and even local friends who’ve never noticed it before. Come along and discover this hidden gem of Japanese travel culture!
Eki Stamps: A Fun, Free Collectible for Train Travelers
Eki stamps (駅スタンプ) are collectible ink stamp designs found at train stations all across Japan. They’re completely free to use, and each one is unique, featuring local landmarks, mascots, or cultural motifs that reflect the character of the area.
The tradition began in 1931, when the first stamp appeared at Fukui Station to celebrate the launch of a new train line. It was so popular that the Ministry of Railways soon rolled it out nationwide. Today, it’s a beloved ritual for train enthusiasts, local explorers, and foreign travelers alike.
Eki stamps can be found at train stations all around Japan | Photo by Lourdes Morales
It’s fun, it’s free, and it makes every train ride feel like a mini treasure hunt! Plus there’s something deeply satisfying about flipping through a notebook filled with stamped memories of places you've visited.
The Origin of Stamps: From Sacred Seals to Station Memories
Japan’s eki stamp culture has its roots in the sacred tradition of collecting handwritten seals from temples and shrines. These spiritual mementos are called goshuin (御朱印), and they date back over 1,300 years. Translated as “honorable red seal”, they are created by monks or shrine priests and collected by pilgrims in a special notebook called goshuinchō (御朱印帳) as proof of devotion and a record of their visit.
While many younger visitors collect them for their beauty, the spiritual roots remain an important part of the experience. You can find beautifully designed goshuinchō at nearly every shrine or temple in Japan, and receive a goshuin for a small donation (usually between ¥300 and ¥1,000).
During seasonal events, you might even find limited-edition designs, making each visit even more special. It’s also a great way to support Japanese temples and shrines, as entry is usually free.
Start Your Journey: How to Hunt Down Eki Stamps
So, where do you begin your eki stamp adventure? Here’s a quick guide to get started, plus some tips for finding even the most hidden stamps in Japan’s train maze.
Step 1: Get a Dedicated Notebook
First things first: avoid loose papers floating in your bag and pick up a dedicated notebook. You can find notebooks made specifically for train stamps at some station shops, tourist information centers, or online. But really, any small blank notebook will do just fine.
If you're collecting both goshuin and eki stamps here's an important tip: goshuin and eki stamps should never be mixed! Goshuin belong in their designated sacred book or goshuinchō, and mixing in eki stamps can be seen as disrespectful. Some monks may even refuse to stamp your goshuinchō if they spot a non-sacred stamp in it!
One of my favorite spots for eki stamp collection materials is the Traveler’s Factory store. They have beautiful notebooks and even a corner full of free stamps! Rainbowholic 文具喫茶, a cute little stationery shop in Itabashi, Tokyo, also offers adorable stamp goods and free stamps in-store.
Step 2: Find the Stamps
The stamps are often found at the train station’s entrance, usually outside the ticket gates and placed at a stamp booth or table. Finding the stamp corner can feel like its own little quest sometimes, especially in big train stations where you can get lost finding them, but don’t hesitate to ask the train station staff and they will guide you to them.
Sometimes you'll find designated stamp tables, others you'll need to ask! | Photo by Lourdes Morales
If you’re in a smaller or less touristy station and don’t see any sign of a stamp table, don’t give up! In those cases, the stamp might be kept behind the counter. Just walk up to the station staff and ask: 「駅スタンプはありますか？」(Eki sutanpu wa arimasu ka?) : Do you have a station stamp?
Eki Stamp Rallies: Level Up Your Stamp Game
Sometimes, train companies host special Stamp Rallies, where you collect a certain number of stamps for prizes. Stations get decked out with themed decor, and some even feature limited-time trains!
One example is the 2024 Pokémon Stamp Rally, for which Pokémon-themed stamps were placed all around JR East train stations and you could get exclusive Pokémon merch as rewards. During my free time I went on a stamp collection quest and I got to discover many hidden spots along the way! It’s an amazing opportunity to visit places that maybe you wouldn’t have planned to go to, all while collecting stamps from your favorite characters.
Currently, from April 18 to June 22, 2025, there’s a Detective Conan Stamp Rally in Tokyo with 27 stamps and exclusive prizes. Don’t miss it if you’re around!
Beyond Train Stations: Where Else to Find Japan’s Stamps
The stamp world doesn't end at train stations, nowadays you can find stamps to collect in many different places in Japan, almost anywhere you can imagine!
Some spots like museums, shrines, famous landmarks, parks, or tourist information centers have permanent stamps that you can collect as a free souvenir of your visit. Some places like the Tokyo National Museum or the Katsuoji Temple, in Osaka, offer beautiful layered stamps that will turn into a stunning postcard to collect.
The stamps at tourist information centers are also an easy way to get a nice addition to your notebook, and as an extra tip, sometimes you can also ask for an exclusive manhole free collectible card at some locations, little collectible cards featuring a picture of a manhole design that you can find in that specific area.
On some occasions those spots also have their own little permanent stamp rally, like the Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu, where you could get a little map at the entrance with different marked spots where you could collect a stamp. It was a very fun way to visit all the main spots of the park!
Ritsurin Garden stamp rally | Photo by Lourdes Morales
Interested in Japanese history and samurais? Make sure to check out the 24 Castles of Japan Stamp Rally, for which the 24 most representative castles of Japan offer an exclusive stamp for visitors to collect and earn the title of “Castle Master.”
An anime fan? Make sure to check out the annually updated 88 Anime Spots Stamp Rally! You’ll be able to collect 88 different stamps while visiting spots featured in some of your favorite anime.
One of my absolute favorite local stamp rallies was the Koto City 2024 Stamp Rally, held in Tokyo and featuring stunning designs. Completing the stamp rally became my excuse to explore a lesser-known Tokyo neighborhood, and I discovered many hidden gems and amazing shops, like the Fukugawa Edo Museum or this traditional sweet shop. With your stamp book, you could also get special discounts, like free entry to many museums or free items in the stores.
Exploring Koto City in Tokyo | Photo by Lourdes Morales
The world of Japanese stamps knows no limits, so always make sure to keep an eye out for any surprise stamp rallies out there!
Michi-no-Eki: Road Trip? Collect Stamps While Supporting Locals
If you're driving, don’t skip Michi-no-Eki (道の駅), roadside rest areas designated by the government all across Japan, with the intention of making road trips easier for travelers. They play an important role in the local community, and they offer free parking, toilets, local snacks, and regional products, some of them even showers and ATM services. And of course, stamps!
On some occasions you’ll also be able to join a stamp rally usually held each year, like the Okinawa Michi-no-Eki Stamp Rally, or the Hokkaido Michi-no-Eki Stamp Rally, where you could get local products as awards for your collection.
They’re a nice way to support the local community, so if you’re driving in Japan, make sure to check them out!
Fukei-in: Send a Postcard with a Local Touch
Postmarks are those ink stamps that are normally put over postage stamps when sending letters or postcards. They usually don’t have anything special, but Japan has made the designs unique depending on the area.
Depending on where you’re at, you can head to the post office in the area and send a postcard with an exclusive stamp or Fukei-in (風景印), featuring some highlights of that place, like for example the Asakusa Post Office Fukei-in featuring Tokyo Skytree and the Sensō-ji temple entrance. Here you can find the whole list of Fukei-in designs in Japan.
You can send a postcard to your friends and family in different areas during your trip around Japan, a unique memory to send home. However, as long as you buy a ¥85 postage stamp, you can also get the postmark stamp without having to send anything, just make sure to get a postcard, notebook or any paper and let the post office staff know that you want to get a Fukei-in stamped on it.
Stamp Your Way Through Japan
Whether you're casually collecting stamps as little memories from your trip or diving into full-on rally mode, stamp hunting is a fun and meaningful way to explore Japan, one station, shrine, or hidden gem at a time. Each stamp tells a story, and your notebook becomes a living memory of your journey to share with everyone.
One of my favorite external resources to get information about stamp locations is Funakiya's Travel Stamp Book, where you can even download an interactive Google map and locate the most hidden stamps!
And this is just one small window into Japan’s love for detail, tradition, and discovery. If you're curious to explore even more alongside friendly local tour leaders, from tucked-away neighborhoods to unique local experiences, check out TOMOGO!, made for travelers who want to go beyond the usual. From culture to food to everyday adventures, there’s always something new to uncover.
Happy stamping, and happy exploring!
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