Eki stamps are Japan’s best free souvenir
I’m guilty of buying a cheesy trinket or two. It can be fun to lean into the cliche of a destination — whether that be picking out an Eiffel Tower snow globe, a printed map tea towel, or a Mexican sombrero.
But I’ve been thinking about “unconventional” souvenirs, like Stephen’s “Jackets of the World”, which offer a unique way to merge your travel experiences with your passions and hobbies. Bespoke keepsakes truly reflect who you are and what you love — an extension of you.
This brings me to a free souvenir I have just discovered in Japan — collectable eki stamps, located inside train stations across the country.
Camera IconThe Japanese Shinkansen (bullet train). Credit: Oliver Foerstner/OliverFoerstner – stock.adobe.com
As an avid journaller who documents memories like her life depends on it, embarking on a fun railway quest to collect these unique souvenirs for my travel journal was among the top highlights of my trip. I recommend it to everyone, not just my fellow journallers.
It is thrilling, and here’s why.
Eki stamps are a beloved Japanese tradition, deeply woven into the country’s charming culture. Stamp collecting has long been a popular hobby in Japan.
Goshuin (stamps collected in books called shuincho, and available at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples) trace back thousands of years.
But eki stamps are more contemporary. They were first introduced in 1931 at a station in Fukui Prefecture to boost tourism and encourage railway use, with each featuring a unique design reflecting the area to which it belongs or nearby landmarks.
For example, Nara station’s design pays homage to the area’s native deer, and Asakusa’s showcases Senso-ji temple.
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Official eki stamp notebooks are sold at various train stations, but your own notebook or journal can do the trick just fine.
As I meander through the country’s impressive railway network, I carry my daily travel journal and a thin art book with me, squeezed into my cross-body bag, aptly named Mary Poppins for the admirable amount it can carry.
There is something special about engaging with the Japanese railway system in such a fun, intimate way. When hunting for the often-camouflaged, hidden-in-plain-sight stamp table, I find myself observing the smaller details that often go unnoticed (at least by me). A peculiar advertisement poster, or a breathtaking tile arrangement.
Camera IconMegan’s travel journal in Japan, collecting eki stamps Credit: Megan French
My travel partner and I scour the station with eager eyes, like a Jaguar sniffing out its prey in the forest. Our train will be arriving any minute, but the hunt is on. It feels like a treasure hunt — the excitement of the chase and the satisfaction of discovery are utterly addictive.
If it’s a bigger train station, chances are high you’ll find the stamp desk in the ticket area or near a help desk. In smaller stations, they are placed sporadically, which is more thrilling.
Camera IconMegan’s travel journal featuring eki stamps collected throughout her trip. Credit: Megan French
Another trick is asking a local guard “Sumimasen. Eki sutampu wa doko desu ka?” which translates as “Excuse me. Where is the station stamp?”
Exploring diverse Japanese landscapes throughout the country while collecting eki stamps is, in a way, an immersive souvenir. You are left not only with a beautiful keepsake collection of unique stamp designs, but the memories of collecting them too.
And considering Japan has more than 9000 train stations, it can be a souvenir you keep adding to over the years, across many trips.
My tip for anyone interested in partaking in the fascinating stamp hunt would be to carry an ink pad with you, if you can.
Unfortunately I didn’t, and it was my one gripe of the trip because some of the provided ink pads were drying up.
And that was, not to be dramatic, minorly soul-destroying.
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