GOSHUIN NAVI — ENGLISH GUIDE
Japan's Shrine & Temple Stamps, Explained
A goshuin is a hand-inscribed seal you can receive at shrines and temples across Japan — one of the most beautiful souvenirs the country offers. Learn what they are, how to receive one politely, and where to go.
Shrine Stamps, Temple Stamps, Goshuin
English speakers reach for a few different names — shrine stamps, temple stamps, goshuin stamps — but they all describe the same thing. A goshuin (御朱印) is brushed by hand in ink at the shrine or temple office, stamped with vermilion seals and dated for the day you came. Nobody keeps a stock of them ready, which is why no two are ever quite the same. If you are wondering how to pronounce goshuin, it is go-shoo-een — three even beats, no stress on any one of them.
They are also not the souvenir stamps you press yourself at train stations and tourist offices. A goshuin is a record of having worshipped, so it comes after you pray, not instead of it — the difference is worth knowing before you go.
The Short Answers
- What is a goshuin?
- A hand-inscribed seal given at shrines and temples as proof that you visited and prayed there. What a goshuin is
- How do you pronounce it?
- Go-shu-in — three even beats, no stress on any one of them. The kanji 御朱印 spell out what it is. Saying it right
- How do I ask for one?
- Say Goshuin o onegaishimasu and hand over your book, open at the page you want used. The phrases you need
- What does it cost?
- Usually 300 to 500 yen, in cash. Special and limited designs are often priced higher. Prices and paying right
- Where do I get one?
- At the shrine office (shamusho) or the temple sutra office (nokyosho), after you have prayed. Where to find them
- Do I need a special book?
- A goshuincho — the accordion-fold book goshuin are written into. Most shrines sell one. Choosing a goshuincho
- Can tourists collect them?
- Yes, and visitors are welcome to. What matters is worshipping first and asking politely. How to do it right
Start Here
What Is a Goshuin? Japan's Shrine & Temple Stamps Explained
A goshuin (御朱印) is the hand-brushed shrine or temple stamp collected across Japan. What the kanji mean, what's in the vermilion seal, and why it isn't a souvenir stamp.
BasicsHow to Get a Goshuin: Step-by-Step for First-Time Visitors
How to get a goshuin at a Japanese shrine or temple: pray first, find the stamp office, present your goshuincho, pay 300-500 yen, and receive it politely.
EtiquetteGoshuin Etiquette: Do's and Don'ts at Shrines and Temples
Goshuin etiquette: pray before requesting, bring exact change, wait quietly, and accept refusals gracefully. Do's and don'ts every collector should know.
BasicsHow Much Does a Goshuin Cost? Prices and Paying Right
How much does a goshuin cost? Most are 300-500 yen; limited artistic designs run 1,000 yen or more. What hatsuho-ryo means, why it's cash only, and how to pay.
BasicsThe Goshuincho: Choosing and Using Your Stamp Book
Guide to the goshuincho, Japan's shrine and temple stamp book: where to buy one, sizes and prices, mixing shrines and temples, and using kaki-oki paper seals.
BasicsCan Tourists Get a Goshuin? (Yes — Here's How to Do It Right)
Yes, foreign visitors can receive goshuin at Japanese shrines and temples. What's respectful, what's not, whether you need Japanese, and what book to bring.
EtiquetteUseful Japanese Phrases for Getting a Goshuin
The handful of Japanese phrases you need to request a goshuin — with pronunciation, meanings, and what to do when you can't read the menu of designs.
BasicsLimited, Seasonal & Paper-Cut Goshuin: Japan's Collectible Stamps
Monthly, seasonal, festival-only, kirie paper-cut and embroidered goshuin: why they sell out, what they cost, and how to catch them before they're gone.
BasicsGoshuin vs. Japan's Station & Tourist Stamps: Know the Difference
Goshuin and Japan's free station or tourist stamps look similar but mean very different things. Here is how to tell them apart and collect both respectfully.
BasicsBringing Your Goshuin Home: Care, Storage & Display
How to store, care for, and display your goshuincho and loose kakioki sheets after your trip, so your collected goshuin stay in good condition for years.
BasicsHandwritten vs. Paper Goshuin (Jikagaki & Kakioki)
Jikagaki (handwritten) vs. kakioki (pre-written, paper) goshuin: how to tell them apart, read the calligraphy, and store a paper goshuin once you get one.
BasicsHow to Pronounce Goshuin: The Kanji 御朱印 and What It Means
How to pronounce goshuin: a syllable-by-syllable guide (go-shu-in), what the kanji 御朱印 actually mean, and the mistakes English speakers commonly make.
BasicsWhat's Written on a Goshuin? Reading the Kanji and Seals
A goshuin holds four or five distinct elements: the greeting hōhai, the name of the shrine or temple, the date, and the vermilion seals. Here is what each one says and how to read it.
BasicsWhere to Get a Goshuin in Japan: Finding Shrines and Temples
Not every shrine or temple in Japan offers a goshuin, and the office isn't always obvious. Here's a practical guide to finding shrines and temples that do.
City Guides
Best Shrines & Temples for Goshuin in Kyoto
Eight of Kyoto's best shrines and temples for collecting goshuin stamps, with the number of designs, starting prices, and tips for a smooth day of collecting.
Best Shrines & Temples for Goshuin in Tokyo
From Senso-ji to hidden neighborhood shrines, eight great places to collect goshuin in Tokyo — with design counts, starting prices, and limited-edition tips.
A Goshuin Walk Through Kamakura
A one-day walking route through Kamakura's Zen temples and shrines — eight goshuin stops from Kita-Kamakura to the Great Buddha, with prices and tips.
Best Shrines & Temples for Goshuin in Nara
Eight of Nara's best shrines and temples for collecting goshuin, from Todai-ji and Kasuga Taisha to hidden gems in Yoshino, with counts and starting prices.
Goshuin at Ise Jingu: A Pilgrim's Guide
How to collect goshuin on the Ise Jingu pilgrimage circuit: the Geku-first tradition, the famously simple Naiku and Geku stamps, and the auxiliary shrines.
Best Shrines & Temples for Goshuin in Osaka
Eight of Osaka's best shrines and temples for goshuin, from Sumiyoshi Taisha and Imamiya Ebisu to a waterfall temple in Minoh, with counts and starting prices.
Goshuin in Nikko: Temples of a World Heritage Site
A goshuin guide to Nikko's UNESCO World Heritage shrines and temples, from Nikko Toshogu and Rinno-ji to the mountain temples above Lake Chuzenji.
A Goshuin Stroll Through Kanazawa
Where to collect goshuin in Kanazawa, from Oyama Shrine's stained-glass gate to the Ninja Temple, Ishiura Shrine, and Higashi Chaya's Utasu Shrine.
Goshuin in Fukuoka City
A goshuin guide to Fukuoka City's Kushida Shrine, Sumiyoshi Shrine, and hilltop Washio Atago Shrine, plus a note on nearby Dazaifu Tenmangu.
Goshuin in Sendai: City of Date Masamune
A goshuin guide to Sendai, built by the one-eyed daimyo Date Masamune, covering Osaki Hachimangu, Aoba Shrine, Sendai Toshogu, and Rinno-ji.
Goshuin Day Trips from Tokyo: Kamakura & Nikko
Two classic goshuin day trips from Tokyo: coastal Kamakura's Great Buddha and temples, and Nikko's UNESCO World Heritage shrines. Practical planning tips inside.
Famous Shrines & Temples
Common Questions
What are Japanese shrine stamps called?
They are called goshuin (御朱印). You will also see them described in English as shrine stamps, temple stamps or goshuin stamps — all the same thing. The book they are collected in is a goshuincho (御朱印帳), and the vermilion seal itself is a shuin (朱印).
How do you pronounce goshuin?
Roughly go-shoo-een, in three even beats with no stress on any one part. The word breaks down as go (an honorific prefix), shu (vermilion) and in (seal) — literally the honourable vermilion seal.
How do I ask for a goshuin in Japanese?
Goshuin o onegaishimasu — go-shoo-een oh oh-neh-gai-shee-mass — covers almost every situation. Hand over your goshuincho open at the page you want used, and a small bow with the phrase is all the Japanese you actually need.
How much does a goshuin cost?
Around 300 to 500 yen is the usual range. Double-page, paper-cut and embroidered designs, and limited seasonal ones, are often priced higher. Bring small change and cash — card payment is rarely an option at a stamp office.
Where do you get a goshuin at a shrine or temple?
At a shrine, look for the shamusho or juyosho (the office where charms are sold); at a temple, look for the nokyosho. Pray at the main hall first, then go to the office — the stamp is a record of your visit, so the order matters.
Are goshuin the same as the stamps at train stations?
No. Station and tourist stamps are self-service rubber stamps you press yourself, free and unlimited. A goshuin is written for you by hand, one at a time, and is a religious record of having worshipped there.
Goshuin Navi is a Japanese goshuin database covering shrines and temples nationwide. The full database is in Japanese — browse it here. Details can change; please confirm with each shrine or temple before visiting.