​Why You Should Bring a Stamp Notebook to Japan


​If you're planning a trip to Japan, I highly recommend bringing a blank "Stamp Notebook."

​Why? Because in Japan, you can find free commemorative stamps almost everywhere—train stations, temples and shrines, museums, "Michi-no-Eki" (roadside rest areas), and even service areas on highways.

​I believe this culture stems from the Japanese national character of loving to collect things and keep memories.

A great example is "Goshuin," the traditional practice of collecting handwritten seals from shrines and temples, which has continued from ancient times to the present day.

​By carrying a stamp notebook, you can create a unique travel log—much like a passport filled with visas—that lets you look back on every place you've visited.

​As many of you might know, this "stamp rally" culture was also a huge hit at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, where visitors lined up at various pavilions just to collect their unique stamps!

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