Goshuincho (Goshuin Stamp Book)

A goshuincho is a book specifically designed for collecting goshuin (shrine and temple seal stamps). These books are typically bound in accordion-fold (jabara) style, with sturdy washi paper pages that can absorb the calligraphy ink without bleeding through.

Most shrines and many temples sell their own original goshuincho, often featuring cover designs related to the shrine's deity, famous scenery, or seasonal motifs. Collecting goshuin as one travels to different shrines and temples has become a major trend in Japan, particularly among younger visitors, turning what was once a purely devotional practice into a cultural hobby.

Traditionally, goshuin were proof that a worshipper had copied and offered a sutra (shakyo) at a temple; the practice later expanded to Shinto shrines. There is ongoing debate in religious circles about whether goshuin collecting as a hobby detracts from its spiritual meaning. Most shrine priests welcome the practice as a way of encouraging visitation, though they ask that visitors properly pray before requesting a goshuin.