How to find eki stamps in Japan

Looking for a free and fun thing to collect while traveling in Japan? Try starting an eki stamp collection!

Eki stamps (translated to “station stamps”) are (free!) rubber stamps used as a kind of tourist souvenir around Japan. Originally, they were only found at train stations (hence “station stamp”) but now you can get them nearly everywhere. Finding and collecting eki stamps is one of my favorite things to do in Japan, and I encourage everyone to get some for their own collection.

That said, finding eki stamps (and the like) can be a little difficult if you don’t speak or read Japanese. Here’s how to find eki stamp locations across Japan.

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Typical eki stamp locations

Here’s where I’ve gotten souvenir stamps before while on my visits to Japan:

• Train stations, plus special tourist trains have their own stamps on board
• Subway stations (not all)
• Metro rail stations
• Bus stations, plus highway rest stops when on intercity bus trips
• Museums, castles, and most tourist places like towers
• Stationery stores
• Parks and historical sites

If it’s a place that tourists typically visit, especially domestic tourists, there’s a good chance there’s a stamp somewhere.

NOTE: You might have to ask someone for the stamp, as they don’t always have them sitting out. Train stations are about 50/50 for me on that front. The nice thing about having to ask for the stamp is that usually they’ll have a ton of different ones, even sometimes a retired image!

Be sure to also check windows at different train lines WITHIN the same station. For instance, stations with JR local trains and Shinkansen trains will have different stamps for each line!

Some stations also have special anniversary stamps! In 2023, the Tokyo JR lines had special stamps for their 150th anniversary, for instance.

Also keep an eye out for special “stamp rally” events, where a special stamp (usually hosted by a 3rd party) is available for a limited time. These are usually special characters like Hello Kitty, Pokemon, popular anime characters or city mascots. Cute!

How to ask staff for an eki stamp

Don’t speak any Japanese? No problem! I’ve gotten by just with these two phrases:

Eki stampu ari-mas-ka? which means “Is there a station stamp?”

Eki stampu doko-des-ka? which means “Where is the station stamp?”

Or most often I just hold up my notebook and say “eki stampu?” in a hopeful tone of voice.

Eki stamp locations: Japanese resources

Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive English-language list of all souvenir stamps and their locations, BUT Japanese collectors have done a great job compiling info online.

Here’s the best resources I’ve found so far:

• https://stamp.funakiya.com/en/ is the easiest-to-use website, with a comprehensive listing of stamps in train stations and beyond. Here’s the tourist spots in Japan with stamps, for instance!
• http://eki-stamp.com (English translated version) which also has a discussion board (all in Japanese).
• http://stamp.otimusya.com/index.php (English translated version) which has good images of the stamps themselves and the locations, but I find it a bit difficult to use the website.

Tokyo Eki Stamp Locations: Train stations

This is to help out those who are looking for stamps in Tokyo’s HUGE train stations– I once wandered through Shinjuku station for an hour trying to find the eki stamp, so I know the pain.

Normally, in the huge stations the stamps are either IN or NEAR the ticketing office, or AT or NEAR the Info/Help desk.

JR Harajuku eki stamp

Outside the Omotesando Street exit ticket gate.

JR Shibuya eki stamp

Inside the West Exit ticketing office on the first floor. There’s should be two stamps available, the regular JR one and a special station mascot stamp.

JR Shinjuku eki stamp

Outside the east exit ticket gate, inside the ticketing office.

JR Tokyo Station eki stamp

Outside Marunouchi south exit ticket gate.

JR Ueno eki stamp

Outside the Iriya street ticket gate. There are two stamps available, a regular JR line one and a special station mascot stamp.

Eki stamp notebooks & supplies

There are official eki stamp notebooks you can buy once you’re in Japan! Kinokuniya, a BIG Japanese bookstore, should have them in the travel section. They should cost about ¥825 or about $5.60 USD and there’s a few different covers depending on what kind of stamps you’re collecting. For instance, they have covers for each train company, plus one for highway service stations.

Otherwise, a Moleskine notebook or other blank-paged notebook is good.

Some enterprising people on Amazon have made their own eki stamp notebooks and put them up for sale. Here’s some of the prettiest ones I’ve found:

You could also pick up a passport-sized notebook from Midori or Muji; these are smaller than Moleskine notebooks and can fit in a pocket.

I also recommend picking up a thin rubber mat or a plastic pencil board to put behind the page you’re stamping on. This’ll give you a clearer image, especially on worn-out stamps.

Eki stamp Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an ink pad for eki stamps?

No, you don’t. Every stamp station has a corresponding ink pad, and some even have self-inking stamps. If the ink pad is dried out, you can ask staff to refresh it or get a new one.

How big are eki stamps?

Most regular round station stamps seem to be about 3 inches wide, but I’ve gotten some closer to 5 inches. If you’re using a passport sized notebook, these larger stamps won’t fit, so it might be a good idea to carry some scrap paper around so you can stamp that as a backup.

The stamp image is all blurry. What should I do?

Often the eki stamp itself is worn down from use. To help get a clearer image, try putting a stiff piece of cardboard or a thin rubber mat behind the page you’re stamping on. Something like this pencil board would work well.

The pencil board gives greater resistance to the stamp, so it helps make the image come out a little clearer.

Have any other questions? Leave a comment below!

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Further Reading

Traveling around Japan this year? You might also be interested in these posts:

• Where to stay: Japan hostels & hotels for solo female travelers
• Where to find the Narita Airport eki stamp
• From Los Angeles to Tokyo (Narita) with ZipAir
• A day in Kawagoe, the Little Edo

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