A practical guide to collecting Japan’s eki stamps

Now ubiquitous in many of Japan’s 9,000 stations, the first eki stamp appeared in 1931 at Fukui station near the Sea of Japan coast, where stationmaster Kanichi Tominaga hit upon the idea of a commemorative stamp after a casual conversation with staff. Once installed, the stamp — which included an image of Eiheiji, an important Sōtō Zen temple nearby — became something of a local attraction.

Fast forward to the 1970s, when the Osaka World Expo triggered a surge in Japanese domestic travel. Families were encouraged to explore Japan by rail, collecting newly installed ‘Discover Japan’ eki stamps in major stations as they passed through the Japan National Railways (JNR) network (now known as JR, or Japan Railways). By the 1980s, the passenger boom was over and JNR’s mounting financial difficulties prompted them to promote a second wave of eki stamps as part of their ‘My Journey’ campaign, which focused on regional charm and travel off the beaten path.

But the origins of collecting seals or stamps in Japan may go back as far as 800 years to Buddhist pilgrims who gathered ‘stamps’ (nokyoin) for the copied sutras they offered to temples they visited. In the 1930s, ink seals with handwritten calligraphy became known as goshuin and were collected in a concertina-like book called a goshuincho, as a record of the pilgrimages made and merit accumulated. Goshuin remain popular with modern day pilgrims and travellers alike and can still be obtained for a small fee at designated booths in temples and shrines.

Often available in the auspicious vermillion ink of goshuin temple seals, eki stamps are unique to the station in which they are located. Frequently circular, with the location name running around the perimeter, their designs feature a combination of landmarks, Japanese characters and meibutsu (local specialities) that give them a distinctly Japanese feel. For example, the eki stamp at Ryōgoku station in Tokyo features a sumo wrestler, reflecting the neighbourhood’s 1,500-year-old connection to the national sport. Meanwhile, the world’s busiest station, Shinjuku — which serves almost three million daily commuters — has a stamp that combines images of the skyscrapers at its West Exit with a quirky depiction of Naito togarashi, a local heirloom chilli pepper from Edo Tokyo. Stamps are available at JR and private railway stations, as well as many tourist attractions across Japan.

“Train is the best way to get around Japan and collecting eki stamps is something everyone can do,” says Archie Peters, an avid collector and travel consultant at InsideJapan Tours. “I started collecting eki stamps in a little washi notebook and it grew from there. Part of the fun is finding the stamps in the station, but it also makes a great memento to look back on.”

How do I collect eki stamps?

Eki stamps are free to collect. All you need is some paper or a notebook — and Japan has plenty of lovely stationery to choose from. Some stations provide paper, or even pretty stamp cards, or you can buy dedicated eki stamp notebooks in some station shops. Locate the stamp and ink pad to make an impression into your book. Stampers usually have a mark on them to indicate the top, but it is worth doing a test sheet first. Some are self-inking but often you’ll find old wooden-handled stamps and well-used ink pads, resulting in a faint impression. To be sure, you could carry your own ink pad — but don’t use it if the ink colour doesn’t match. Make a note of the stamp location and date so you can remember it later. The Railway Museum in Saitama occasionally holds exhibitions featuring replicas of past station stamps that visitors can use, while Tokyo Metro Museum has nine original stamps — one for each subway line.

Where can I find eki stamps?

Eki stamps are usually found outside the station’s main ticket gate or at the Midori-no-Madoguchi (ticket counter). Occasionally, you’ll find one inside the barriers or behind the counter at the station master’s window. In Tokyo alone, JR East has 78 station stamps, with more to be found in the private-line stations and Tokyo Metro. In Tokyo’s biggest stations (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro and Tokyo), it is worth asking for the location or searching online beforehand. If you can’t find the stamp, just ask ‘Eki sutampu wa arimasuka?’, meaning ‘Is there a station stamp?’.

What are stamp rallies?

Japanese railway companies often hold limited-duration stamp rallies for which special stamps can be collected in a special stamp-collecting booklet or card at designated stations. Events often feature nostalgic stamp designs and a prize is usually awarded for completing it. JR Central recently hosted a rally celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Tokaido Shinkansen, while one of the most popular events is JR East’s annual Pokémon stamp rally.

Which stamps are most sought after?

Every eki stamp is unique but some are particularly eye-catching, such as that of Gion-Shijo station in Kyoto, which features a geisha, or Miyajimaguchi station in Hiroshima, which depicts the floating torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine — one of Japan’s top tourist attractions. Hiroshima’s station stamp is a 2008 design showing the A-Bomb Dome and the cenotaph in the Peace Memorial Park, with doves flying overhead. The stamp at Kuki station in Saitama is in the shape of a chochin lantern, while Kamakura’s features the 13th-century Great Buddha. The iconic shinkansen features on numerous stamps including Akita’s, where it appears alongside its namesake, Komachi rice. As the birthplace of Japan’s railways, Shinbashi’s stamp reflects its heritage with an image of the former station building and the steam locomotive in SL Square. The stamp at Nobeyama on the Koumi Line in Nagano is located at the highest-altitude station on the JR Group’s network, at 4,413 feet.

What about digital stamps?

Digital stamps are becoming increasingly widespread, with JR East spearheading the digitisation of station stamps with EKITAG, an app (currently only available in Japanese) that allows users to collect digital stamps by scanning EKITAG touchpoints (NFC tags) using a smartphone. Stamps are collected on the app in a digital ‘book’ and users can add the stamps to their photos. EKITAG can be found in 1,235 stations Japan-wide, including unmanned stations, making them easy to collect.