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This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).<\/i><\/p>\n
Now ubiquitous in many of Japan\u2019s 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 \u2014 which included an image of Eiheiji, an important S\u014dt\u014d Zen temple nearby \u2014 became something of a local attraction.<\/p>\n
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 \u2018Discover Japan\u2019 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\u2019s mounting financial difficulties prompted them to promote a second wave of eki stamps as part of their \u2018My Journey\u2019 campaign, which focused on regional charm and travel off the beaten path.<\/p>\n
But the origins of collecting seals or stamps in Japan may go back as far as 800 years to Buddhist pilgrims who gathered \u2018stamps\u2019 (nokyoin<\/i>) for the copied sutras they offered to temples they visited. In the 1930s, ink seals with handwritten calligraphy became known as goshuin <\/i>and were collected in a concertina-like book called a goshuincho, <\/i>as a record of the pilgrimages made and merit accumulated. Goshuin<\/i> 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.<\/p>\n
Often available in the auspicious vermillion ink of goshuin <\/i>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<\/i> (local specialities) that give them a distinctly Japanese feel. For example, the eki stamp at Ry\u014dgoku station in Tokyo features a sumo wrestler, reflecting the neighbourhood\u2019s 1,500-year-old connection to the national sport. Meanwhile, the world\u2019s busiest station, Shinjuku \u2014 which serves almost three million daily commuters \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrain is the best way to get around Japan and collecting eki stamps is something everyone can do,\u201d says Archie Peters, an avid collector and travel consultant at InsideJapan Tours. \u201cI started collecting eki stamps in a little washi <\/i>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.\u201d<\/p>\nHow do I collect eki stamps?<\/h2>\n
Eki stamps are free to collect. All you need is some paper or a notebook \u2014 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\u2019ll 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 \u2014 but don\u2019t use it if the ink colour doesn\u2019t match. Make a note of the stamp location and date so you can remember it later. The Railway Museum<\/a> in Saitama occasionally holds exhibitions featuring replicas of past station stamps that visitors can use, while Tokyo Metro Museum<\/a> has nine original stamps \u2014 one for each subway line.<\/p>\n