Did you know that at the temples and shrines famous as sightseeing spots all around the cities of Japan, Japanese hold “stamp rallies” where they collect stamps in a stamp book?

Its very easy to join in a stamp rally yourself- all you need is to get a stamp book for it.

The specialized stamp book is called a “shuincho”, and can easily be found at temples and shrines, so keep an eye out for one.
If you find a shuincho you’d like, all you need is keep 300 yen on hand and get in the stamp rally line.

Then, when its your turn and you hand over the stamp book, you’ll get to watch a live calligraphy show. Elegant blushstrokes, vivid colors, and most of all, super cool!

The stamps come in all shapes and sizes depending on the shrine or temple. Some are thin and beautiful, while others are bold and powerful. A stamp book full of colorful stamps and kanji is sure to become a memento for you to treasure for a lifetime.