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Goshuin are hand-drawn designs that you can collect from shrines and temples around Japan – and they make a beautiful souvenir of your trip. But, as with everything in Japan, there’s a little bit of etiquette involved with collecting them – so, here’s what you need to know.
What Are Goshiun?
Originally, goshuin were stamps given to the devout as part of their pilgrimage to a shrine or temple. The monk would draw them to show that someone had worshipped at the shrine – but, while this is still part of collecting a goshuin for many, others collect them for the uniqueness of their designs.
Every temple has a different stamp, which often reflects something about the temple from which you collect it. So, for example, if you go to the rather fabulous Yasaka Koshindo – aka the Pom Pom Temple – in Kyoto, which is presided over by statues of the three wise monkeys, you’ll find the monkeys as part of the design.
The purple design above is from Nagoya’s Wakeoe Shrine which has a fantastic wisteria display – and, I’ll let you work out what’s on the stamp from the Tagata Shrine in Nagoya which has an erm, male anatomy theme! Let’s just say I didn’t think I should add it on here.
What Do They Mean?
A Goshuin design comes in two parts – the red stamped part contains pictures that might reflect something about the shrine, and then, there’s a handpainted element that’s done in black calligraphy script. This might include the name of the temple, the date you visited, and on some of mine it says how long the temple has been or the name of the deity the shrine represents.
Sometimes the shrine will add other elements as well, like the frog above – this design is from Sendai’s Sakuraoka Daijingu Shrine. I still have no idea what the frog has to do with anything, but I rather like him.
Sometimes a temple will have more than one design, especially if it’s around a holiday day or the new year, and you can choose which one you want, but normally you won’t see the design until after it’s been drawn for you.
Where to Put The Designs
You might have heard about collecting other sorts of stamps on their Japan trip like those at stations, but, while you can do those in any book, you must collect goshuin in a special book, called a goshuin-cho.
This is not like a normal notepad, instead, the leaves fan out sideways in a long line outside the book, rather than having pages that you flick through. Each stamp is given its own page in the book.
You can use both sides of the pages in a goshuin book if you want to – this will let you collect 46 different goshuin. Or, you can just stick to having your stamps the front of the pages. The shrines will fill all of the front pages first which allows you to decide when you’ve filled this up whether to go onto the back or buy another book.
You can buy these books at shrines and temples and like the stamps, you’ll find lots of different designs.
I bought my first book (the left-hand design) at Zojo-ji temple (one of our interesting shrines in Tokyo) as that was the first stamp I collected, but then when I was at the Ozaki Shrine in Kyoto, which has a bunny theme, I couldn’t resist buying this second one with a cute bunny design.
How Much is a Goshuin?
A standard stamp is around 300 yen – and you usually need to pay in cash. However, if the shrine does have a special limited edition design, these cost slightly more – normally 500-1000 yen. The more ornate the design the more it costs – especially if gold leaf is involved.
You can fit a lot of goshuin in a book, and collecting them can get a bit addictive. I discovered this is my equivalent of collecting gachapon in regards to it burning through cash – after a particularly busy day visiting some unusual shrines in Nagoya, I looked in my purse and all my money had gone away.
Most shrines and temples won’t take cards to pay for a goshuin so make sure you have cash – and ideally the right change, or a small note.
The Process of Collection of a Goshuin
First of all, remember, that goshuin originally had a spiritual connection, so please collect respectfully. Pay attention to the shrine, use the purification ritual, and pay a small offering at the shrine.
Then you have to find the office in which they are drawn – these might not open the same hours as the shrine, they’re normally open from around 9am to 4pm, but you might find a bit of deviation either way. If you can’t find it, look for a sign like this one.
When you arrive here, you ask for a goshuin, or simply show them your goshuin book.
At this point, they might point at the designs so you can choose which one you like, or they’ll just tell you how much it costs.
You then hand over your book and, depending on how big and busy the shrine is, either the monk will draw it in front of you, or, it will go off to someone in another room or at another window. Just wait around until it’s finished. They know which book belongs to whom.
If the shrine is very busy or famous for its goshuin you might even get a numbered ticket and have to come back a bit later.
If you do get to see the monk drawing the goshuin do not take pictures without asking them – some of them will have a clear no photos sign, others might say no when you ask, but you might get lucky.
I had one very smiley monk who was happy for me to take pictures at one Kyoto shrine. Again, the busier and more popular the shrine the less likely they are to let you take pictures.
Some Tourist Attractions Have Goshuin Too
While most of the time you’ll be collecting goshuin you’ll be doing it from official shrines or temples, you’ll also find some tourist attractions that have small shrines on the premises that also have them.
For example, there is a small shrine on top of Tokyo Tower and you can buy goshuin sheets in the gift shop. And, if you go to visit Tama, the Cat Stationmaster, you’ll be able to buy a goshuin from the small shrine on the platform in her honor. It has a cute paw print on it.
As I said, collecting goshuin is not the same as collecting the stamps on a stamp pad that you find at tourist attractions and stations – these must not go in your goshuin-cho. Just use a second normal notepad for those stamps – or, you can buy special stamp books at Japanese stationary stores. Only goshuin go in a goshuin-cho.
Another ‘rule’ to abide by is that while collecting goshuin is fun and the book makes a lovely souvenir for you, you can’t give them as gifts – the seal is for the person who collects it so, don’t pick up lots of bits of paper for friends back home.
Keeping Your Goshuin Catalogued
In very small shrines – for example, Kyoto’s fantastic Daruma Shrine, they don’t have anyone on hand to draw the goshuin but they will give you a ready-drawn sheet that you can then add to your book. Top tip if you get these – photograph the seal and the shrine you go it in so you can match them up later.
If you forget (ahem, been there, done that), some of the shrines will give you a piece of paper about the shrine with the goshuin so keep everything together – or, if the design doesn’t help you pinpoint things, the camera function on Google Translate can sometimes read enough of them for you to work out it by say, the date.
That’s how I worked out where the one above with the little frog on it came from. I had no clue where I’d got that until ran Google Translate over it – again, still confused by the frog!
Goshuin should go in date order, so, keep the paper seals in your book while you collect them – it’s safer than putting them in your bag anyway as they will get creased. This should also hold a place for them if the next shrine draws their stamp.
At the end of the day, you can either glue them in there and then (7-11 sells glue) or take out the papers and put them somewhere safe, then add them when you get home which is when that photography tip comes in very handy.
Also, remember, that the book is the opposite way to how we would read it in the West. So, when you open the book, your first stamp is on the left-hand page and the book cover is on your right and you pull the book to the right to open it in order.
I always open mine the other way at first and then panic that some of them are upside down. Make sure yours is the right way up before you stick any extra sheets in place.
How to Find The Prettiest Goshuin
Goshuin collecting is now incredibly popular with young women in Japan and, you can follow hashtags like #goshuin #goshiongirl, or in Japanese #御朱印 which will show you some of the prettiest designs.
As a general rule, I found that if the temple had something a bit quirky about it, the goshuin also tended to be a bit more interesting.
Some of my other favorite ones below…
Inu Shrine, Nagoya
This shrine is dedicated to all the furry good boys of the world and has a dog motif – who also appears on their goshuin. Because I got this one in 2023 it also has rabbits on it as 2023 was the year of the rabbit. You’ll quite often find the year’s symbol reflected in some of the special goshuin.
Nagoya has some great unusual shrines and is one reason why I think you should stay a bit longer in Nagoya than most people allow for the city. I did not spend enough time there.
Ohatsu Tenjin Shrine, Osaka
I love the flower theme of the goshuin of the Ohatsu Tenjin love shrine in Osaka. This also includes an image of the ill-fated lovers the shrine is dedicated to (read their story in our guide to spending three days in Osaka).
Otoyo Shrine, Kyoto
And here is another cute one that comes from the Otoyo Shrine in Kyoto. This shrine is dedicated to all animals and the entrance is guarded by two mice – who also appear on their goshuin.
So, that’s what you need to know about collecting goshuin on your trip. It can be a great way to add a bit of extra interest (and fun) to visiting temple-heavy cities like Kyoto – especially if someone in your group easily gets shrine fatigue (which I admit is one reason I started to collect them), or to keep children motivated – but, be warned it is a bit addictive once you get started.
If you start collecting them, please come over to our Facebook Group to share your pictures.
Who Writes This Blog?
My name is Helen Foster, and I’m a journalist and author. My travel articles have appeared in publications including The Australian, RAC Horizons, Jetstar Magazine, Sainsbury’s Magazine, and more.
I’ve traveled to Japan five times before- solo and with my partner – and I’ve just returned from trip six in June 2023. So, everything here is pretty up to date.
