Goshuin are special stamps issued by temples and shrines in Japan as proof of a visit. They typically consist of a red ink stamp and the name of the temple or shrine hand-written in black ink.

My goshuin journey began, quite fittingly, at Gōtokuji—Tokyo’s so-called “lucky cat temple” and widely considered the birthplace of the maneki-neko. As a lifelong ailurophile, I was naturally drawn to ...

Everyone says “new year, new me” but how many people can honestly say they’ve kept up their new habits for the year? Unfortunately for many years, I was a part of that group. I did great from January ...

Almost weekly Momo Nomura makes time to visit Shinto shrines. She performs the prescribed rituals — cleansing her hands, ringing a bell, bowing and clapping. But her main purpose is getting a Goshuin, ...

Living and traveling in Japan, you are bound to come across one of the thousands of temples and shrines that dot the cities and countryside alike. Whether a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist temple, most ...

Planning to visit Japan’s shrines and temples? Here’s what goshuin are and how to get your first stamp. Everyone says “new year, new me,” but how many people can honestly say they’ve kept up their new ...

Many Japanese people visit Shinto shrines and collect Goshuin stamps without considering it a religious activity. About 70% of people in Japan have non-religious feelings towards traditional religions ...