Eki Stamps: The Free Japan Souvenir You’re Missing Out On
On any trip I go on, I bring a travel journal with me. I love jotting down places I’ve been, things that happened, the little stuff that a photo can’t capture or that I’ll forget months down the line. In Japan, my journal also came in handy for collecting eki stamps: souvenir rubber stamps that you can use in Japan’s rail stations and document your journey as you travel through the country.
What are Eki Stamps?
The term “eki stamp” literally means “station stamp” and you’ll find them in nearly every train station in Japan, usually by the ticket booth. They’re rubber stamps, often with an ink-pad next to them or self inking. The eki stamps themselves usually feature an image of something typical of the local area; things like landmarks, local food, or station mascots are all common.
The first eki stamps came about in 1931 in Fukui station, and eventually rolled out to stations across Japan. Today, you’ll find them in pretty much any rail station you pass through. The stamps were originally inspired by the tradition of collecting shrine or temple seals, and after the success in Fukui, the government realised it was a great way to promote tourism.
And, while they’re technically not eki stamps, you’ll even find them in places like temples, airports, and tourist centres dotted around the country.
How Do I Collect Eki Stamps?
The actual eki stamps you’ll find around Japan are free to use, but you’ll need your own notebook or paper to print the stamps onto.
When I was on my first trip to Japan, I used my travel journal, and while it technically did the job (plus it was cool to keep my notes with my stamps), the paper was too thin and the ink bled through. If you’re planning to go on your own eki stamp hunt, you can buy dedicated eki stamp books, or a small artist’s sketchbook will usually have thick enough paper to do the job.
When you’re actually in the stations, you’ll usually find the eki stamps on a table by the main ticket booth, or you can ask a member of staff to point you in the right direction. I mimed stamping my book to a man in a station in Hakone, who laughed and brought me over to the desk.
Some of the stations use a kind of large mechanical stamp, which will show you how to position your paper and stamp the booklet. Otherwise, it’s usually just a normal rubber stamp and ink pad setup.
What to Look Out for in Eki Stamps
When you’re off on your Japan travels and racking up your eki stamp collection, keep an eye out for the prettiest designs. Places like Hakone, Nara, and Kyoto often have stamps that feature beautiful imagery.
Keep an eye out for the actual shape of the stamp too. JR station eki stamps tend to be circular, while private lines may have different shapes.
Another thing to keep an eye out is the ink pads themselves. Some are pretty dried out and you’ll really need to press down hard to get anything out of them, while other new ones can be a bit… overenthusiastic. This is where having those thicker paged notebooks really come in handy.
And, if you’ve had your fill of eki stamps, then manhole covers are another thing that tourists in Japan often get a kick out collecting. I spotted this Pokemon/Sakura combo in Kyoto. There are over 6,000 differently decorated manhole covers in Japan, and they’re a real collectors item to try and get all of them – pretty fitting for Pokemon, eh?
Where Next
AnIf you’re spending time in Japan and you’re looking for more interesting discoveries, Tokyo’s Gotokuji Temple was one of my favourite spots. It’s said to be where the beckoning cat, maneki-neko, comes from and you will see literally thousands of the little guys here.
And, further south, Nara is always popular with visitors for good reason, but I actually think you could tie it in very nicely with the lesser visited Uji. Uji is the home of matcha, and a tea lover’s dream.
