Collecting stamps

Before living in Japan, I never would have thought to take a notebook on the train with me.  It sounds so strange to even say that, but I continually kick myself for not having one with me.

At most stations in Japan there are stamps that people collect.  Each station has a unique stamp, often reflecting history of the area or something else specific to the station.  The notebooks people keep are sort of like a passport, telling all the places they have been.  They can be purchased at large bookstores, stationary stores, or train shops.  Since we don't have one of these special books, I sometimes give my son a random piece of paper in my purse.  It would have been nice if I had known they were a thing and I could have provided a notebook from the start.

The stamps are often near the ticket gates of the train stations, but not always.  For really big stations they might be in an office or near a station map. 

There are lots of stamping tips out there.  Here are just a few:

• Do a test on a scrap of paper before stamping your book. Sometimes the stamp will be crusty or uneven and it's good to make sure the one in your book looks nice.
• Put a thin sheet of rubbery plastic behind the sheet you're stamping can help improve the image even when the stamp is worn down.
• Place a sheet of blank paper on top of the wet stamp so it doesn't leave an imprint on the facing page when you close it.
• Remember to close the lid on the ink pad when you're done!  It is just courteous.
• Record the date and station name in the book – especially if you don't read Japanese.

Some museums and tourist destinations also have stamps, making the fun go beyond just trains.