A stamp rally (スタンプラリー) is an event or course dedicated to collecting stamps that follow a certain theme at sites such as train stations, rest areas, tourist attractions, museums, zoos,
onsen towns, shopping malls, and other locations.
The popularity of stamp rallies in Japan started with the phenomenon of the
''eki'' stamp.
The distinction is that stamp rallies usually follow a certain theme and are only appear for a limited time, in contrast to standard ''eki'' stamps bearing the likeness of a station, which are usually available forever, or until they are redesigned. The term "stamp rally" is a ''
wasei-eigo'' invention.
In addition to rallies organized by chain stores,
railroad companies, or travel agencies, rallies are often organized by
tourist association
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism ...
s in local cities. There are also some people who do not intentionally participate in rallies to receive any special benefits, rather engaging with stamps as a personal hobby, stamping their own stamp books as they find them wherever they go, regardless of the type. Some stamp rallies focus on historic sites, such as the Japan Castle Foundation's "100 Famous Castles in Japan", which has included a stamp rally since 2007.
Like the
''eki'' stamp, stamp rallies replicate a history inherited from the ''
shuin
----
A is a seal stamp given to worshippers and visitors to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan. The seal stamps are often collected in books called that are sold at shrines and temples.
The stamps are different from commemorative st ...
'' stamps provided at
sacred sites like
Buddhist temples and
Shinto shrine
A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more '' kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion.
Overview
Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings.
The '' honden''Also called (本殿, mean ...
s, especially on the routes of
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...
s.
Stamp rallies have some conceptual commonalities with the long-running ''
Passport to Your National Parks'' campaign in the United States.
In some cases, rather than filling a book with each stamp in a dedicated box, a stamp rally might be designed to encourage layering color-separated stamps over the same spot with different colors of ink to give a similar effect to
screen printing
Screen printing is a printing technique where a mesh is used to transfer ink (or dye) onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. A blade or squeegee is moved across the screen to fill the open me ...
with multiple plates. This way, visiting each station of the rally is required to view all the layers of the stamp.
JR, major
private railway
A private railway is a railroad run by a private business entity (usually a corporation but not need be), as opposed to a railroad run by a public sector.
Japan
In Japan, , commonly simply ''private railway'', refers to a public transit railwa ...
and
subway
Subway, Subways, The Subway, or The Subways may refer to:
Transportation
* Subway, a term for underground rapid transit rail systems
* Subway (underpass), a type of walkway that passes underneath an obstacle
* Subway (George Bush Interconti ...
companies, and bus companies sometimes hold stamp rallies during spring, summer, and winter vacations. Stamp rallies conducted in collaboration with various media properties are often held, such as
television dramas
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-gen ...
, films,
anime
is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening of ...
, and
video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...
s. Many are themed around mascot characters. Stamp rally tie-ins for
children's anime series are especially popular. Some stamp rallies, such as at roadside stations, are held throughout the year.
Often, stamp rallies conducted in collaboration with anime or television series set in contemporary Japan focus on the many types of landmark locations featured in the work, rather than working with singular private transportation companies or chain businesses. These can be seen as
public–private collaborations with local municipal governments, film associations, chambers of commerce, shopping streets, or tourism associations as a means of encouraging and rewarding ''
Seichi Junrei'', rather than corporate partnerships. Some recent examples include the
third season of ''Laid-Back Camp'' and ''
Edomae Elf''.
Railways
Pokémon
East Japan Rail Company (JR East) tie-ins
Since 1997
East Japan Railway Company
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters ar ...
(JR East) has been conducting an annual project to place stamps of characters and creatures from the
Pokémon
(an abbreviation for in Japan) is a Japanese media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures (company), Creatures, the owners of the trademark and copyright of the franchise.
In terms of ...
franchise at major stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area during the summer vacation period of elementary and junior high school students (except in 2001–2002, 2016, and 2020–2022).
In some years, participants could win limited-edition
trading card
A trading card (or collectible card) is a small card, usually made out of paperboard or thick paper, which usually contains an image of a certain person, place or thing (fictional or real) and a short description of the picture, along with other ...
s.
In 1997, stamps were placed at 30 stations in the
Tokyo metropolitan area, and from 1998, at a dozen stations on the
Yamanote Line
The Yamanote Line ( ja, 山手線, Yamanote-sen) is a loop service in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban ...
. In 2003, the number was expanded to 83 stations, including those covered by the "Holiday Pass" (the predecessor of the Holiday Outing Pass). In 2005, 100 stamps were placed at 97 stations, and long lines formed every day at stations with stamps of popular characters. Since 2004, two of the stamps have been placed at
Tokyo Monorail stations, a member of the JR East Group. In 2011, due to the
Great East Japan Earthquake, the "
Pokemon B&W Stamp Rally" was reduced to a simple rally in which participants could choose one of 12 stations along two courses on the Yamanote Line and collect stamps at six stations. In 2013, the scope was expanded again to include the "Holiday Outing Pass", and the installation of stamps at Tokyo Monorail stations (one out of all stamps) resumed. In 2017, the number was increased to 50 stations, and in 2018 to 55 stations. In 2023, in commemoration of the
Pokémon World Championships held in
Yokohama
is the second-largest city in Japan by population and the most populous municipality of Japan. It is the capital city and the most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a 2020 population of 3.8 million. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of ...
, the "JR East Pokémon World Championships 2023 Stamp Rally" was held. The "Metropolitan Area Course" included stamps from 10 stations (or three of them) within the scope of the "Holiday Pass" and "Nombiri Holiday
Suica
is a prepaid rechargeable contactless smart card, electronic money used as a fare card on train lines in Japan, launched on November 18, 2001. The card can be used interchangeably with JR West's ICOCA in the Kansai region and San'yō region i ...
Pass," while the "Shinkansen Course" included stamps from only one of five designated
Shinkansen
The , colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. Initially, it was built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, to aid economic growth and development. Beyond ...
stations in the
Tōhoku,
Jōetsu, and
Hokuriku regions.
From 1997 to 2000 participation was based on an advance application system. Since 1998, the rally has been held on Saturdays and Sundays, and the number of participants has been limited. Since 2003, the rally has been open to all participants and requires a ticket to each station, a free train ticket, and a
Suica
is a prepaid rechargeable contactless smart card, electronic money used as a fare card on train lines in Japan, launched on November 18, 2001. The card can be used interchangeably with JR West's ICOCA in the Kansai region and San'yō region i ...
. From 2006 to 2010, ''Summer Vacation Timetable: Pokemon Stamp Rally Special Edition'' (夏休み時刻表 ポケモン・スタンプラリー特別号) was published by Kotsu Shinbunsha and served as the official guidebook for the rally, and was commonly known as the "Pokemon Timetable". In 2019, stamp books was distributed at all stations where stamps were installed to collect all the stamps.
In 2005 the stamps (Pokémon) at stations alternated between even-numbered days and odd-numbered days, a behavior that was replicated in the 2015 rally. For example, Lombre was available on even-numbered days in 2005, and Snorlax on odd-numbered days; Chespin was available on even days in 2015, and Chesnaught on the odd days.
In 1998 and 1999 the stamps of the characters were installed, and in 2019 they were installed for the first time in 20 years.
From 2006 to 2010 and 2012 to 2015 some stations were secret stations, where the Pokémon was not identified at all until the stamp was placed. In 2015, the station where the stamp was placed was also a secret.
In 1997 the first year of the stamp rally, participants collected stamps of all 30 stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area in less than two days. Until 2010, the prize is exchanged at
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...
,
Shinjuku
is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world ( Shinjuku Station) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administrati ...
,
Ikebukuro
is a commercial and entertainment district in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. Toshima ward offices, Ikebukuro station, and several shops, restaurants, and enormous department stores are located within city limits. It is considered the second larges ...
,
Shinagawa,
Ueno
is a district in Tokyo's Taitō Ward, best known as the home of Ueno Park. Ueno is also home to some of Tokyo's finest cultural sites, including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, and the National Museum of N ...
, and
Matsudo
260px, Matsudo City Hall
is a city in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 498,575 in 242,981 households and a population density of 8100 persons per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Matsudo is lo ...
stations at the end of the stamp rally. In 2013, a souvenir and a certificate of achievement were distributed, followed by a certificate of achievement with a different design for each of the six stations when the stamps of the remaining stations were collected. In 2015, a certificate of achievement was distributed for each of the remaining stations. In 2017, a souvenir for each area achieved was distributed for each of the remaining stations, and a souvenir that also served as a certificate of achievement was distributed for all stations achieved. In 2018 and 2019, a souvenir that also served as a certificate of achievement was distributed for each of the remaining stations achieved afterwards. In 2011–2015, only Shinjuku and Ueno Stations exchanged prizes upon completion. In 2017, only 6 stations were completed at 12 designated Ekinka stores in the area, and only Ueno Station (which also completed 6 stations) exchanged prizes upon completion of the area and all stations. 2018 and 2019, only 6 stations were completed at designated stations in the area (11 stations in 2018). In 2018 and 2019, only 6 stations were completed at NewDays stores in designated stations (11 stations in 2018 and 9 stations in 2019) in the area (in the case of stations with multiple stores, only designated stores were completed), and prizes were exchanged only at Tokyo and Ikebukuro stations (where 6 stations were also completed) when all stations were completed.

In conjunction with the stamp rally period, the Yamanote Line operated tie-in "Pokémon trains" in 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2010. The train bodies were covered with Pokémon character stickers, and the ads and LCD screens inside the trains were united with Pokémon-related items. The trains were operated on the
Chuo and
Sobu Lines (at various stations) in 2004, and on the Tokyo Monorail from 2006 to 2016 and in 2019.
The
Sendai
is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, the largest city in the Tōhoku region. , the city had a population of 1,091,407 in 525,828 households, and is one of Japan's 20 designated cities. The city was founded in 1600 by the ''daimyō'' Date M ...
area has also hosted the event in 1998 and from 2012 to 2014.
Pokémon stamp rallies conducted by other businesses
Railways
*
West Japan Railway Company
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...
(JR West) – 1998–2000 and 2007–2016. In 2007 the program was implemented in JR West's
Urban Network area and
Hiroshima /
Yamaguchi area. After another development, an
ICOCA card had to be presented.
*
Nagoya Railroad
, referred to as , is a private railway company operating around Aichi Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture of Japan.
Some of the more famous trains operated by Meitetsu include the '' Panorama Car'' and the '' Panorama Car Super'', both of which ...
– 2001, 2007 – 2018: three times in spring, June, and summer in 2007, and twice in spring and summer from 2008 to 2014.
*
Nishi-Nippon Railroad
The , also called or NNR, is one of Japan's "Big 16" private railroad companies. With headquarters in Fukuoka, it operates local and highway buses, supermarkets, real estate and travel agencies, as well as railways in Fukuoka Prefectur ...
– 2001
*
Osaka Metro
The is a major rapid transit system in the Osaka Metropolitan Area of Japan, operated by the Osaka Metro Company, Ltd. It serves the city of Osaka and the adjacent municipalities of Higashiosaka, Kadoma, Moriguchi, Sakai, Suita, and Yao. ...
– 2003, 2006, 2018: In 2003 and 2006, planned as the predecessor (before privatization) Osaka Municipal Subway
*
Hankyu Corporation – 2004
*
Kobe Municipal Subway
The is a rapid transit system in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Like other large Japanese cities, Kobe's subway system is heavily complemented by suburban rail. In addition, two people mover lines also serve the Kobe area: the Port Island Li ...
– 2006
*
Hokkaido Railway Company – 2008–2010
*
Fukuoka City Subway – 2008
*
Kyushu Railway Company
The , also referred to as , is one of the seven constituent companies of Japan Railways Group (JR Group). It operates intercity rail services within Kyushu, Japan and the JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Beetle hydrofoil service across the Tsushima S ...
– 2009–2015
*
Sapporo City Transportation Bureau
Sapporo City Transportation Bureau (札幌市交通局, ''Sapporo-shi Kōtsū-kyoku'') is a public organization of transportation in Sapporo, Japan. The organization operates subways and a tram
A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in N ...
– 2013 – 2019
*
Sendai City Transportation Bureau – 2019
*
AbukumaExpress – 2022
Convenience stores
*
Seven-Eleven Japan – 2014-2015
Highways
* Nakanihon Exis – 2008 and 2009 – Conducted at
NEXCO Central Japan service area and parking area
Tour format
In addition to regular stamp rallies, JR West also organizes stamp rallies that are combined with travel products, in which the stamps are not at stations on specific lines, but at all locations at specific sightseeing spots. In the past, ''
Naruto
''Naruto'' is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. It tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who seeks recognition from his peers and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village. ...
'', ''
The Kindaichi Case Files
is a Japanese mystery manga series based on the crime solving adventures of a high school student, Hajime Kindaichi, the supposed grandson of the famous (fictional) private detective Kosuke Kindaichi. Written by Yōzaburō Ka ...
'', and ''
Detective School Q'' have been used. Travel products are available through JR West's travel agency, Nippon Travel Agency, as well as
JTB, Kinki Nippon Tourist, and JR Shikoku's Warp.
East Japan Rail Company (JR East)
Apart from
Pokémon
(an abbreviation for in Japan) is a Japanese media franchise managed by The Pokémon Company, founded by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures (company), Creatures, the owners of the trademark and copyright of the franchise.
In terms of ...
,
JR East
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters ar ...
has conducted stamp rally tie-ins with several other series.
Past collaborations
* 2016 ''-
Neon Genesis Evangelion
, also known simply as ''Evangelion'' or ''Eva'', is a Japanese Mecha anime and manga, mecha anime television series produced by Gainax and animated by Tatsunoko Production, Tatsunoko, directed by Hideaki Anno and broadcast on TV Tokyo fr ...
'' 20th anniversary, including a wrapped
bullet train, the "
500 Type EVA"
* 2019 -
Kinnikuman
is a Japanese manga series created by the duo Yoshinori Nakai and Takashi Shimada, known as Yudetamago. It follows Suguru Kinniku, a superhero who must win a wrestling tournament to retain the title of prince of Planet Kinniku. ...
* 2023
**
Plarail
** ''
Sumikko Gurashi
Sumikko Gurashi (すみっコぐらし) is a set of fictional characters produced by the Japanese company San-X. The name roughly translates to "life in the corner". The main Sumikko characters are Shirokuma, a polar bear who dislikes the cold, Pe ...
''
Tokyo Metro
Tokyo Metro
The is a major rapid transit system in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the Tokyo Metro Co. With an average daily ridership of 6.84 million passengers, the Tokyo Metro is the larger of the two subway operators in the city; the other being the Toe ...
operates subway the lines in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
* 1999 - Shenmue
* Summer 2023 -
Studio Ghibli
is a Japanese animation studio headquartered in Koganei, Tokyo."Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment". ''Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment''. Retrieved 2020-12-14. It is best known for its animated feature films, and ...
Seibu Railway
Seibu Railway, with some anime production companies scattered along its lines, has held stamp rallies for many animation productions. In particular, the 2014 stamp rally featuring ''
Yokai Watch'' was one of the company's biggest hits, with prize cards in short supply and lines forming at stations where stamps of popular characters were placed.
Past Collaborations

* 2008
** ''
Hello Kitty
, also known by her full name , is a fictional character created by Yuko Shimizu, currently designed by Yuko Yamaguchi, and owned by the Japanese company Sanrio. Sanrio depicts Hello Kitty as an anthropomorphized white cat with a red bow and n ...
''
** ''
Sgt. Frog'' (Spring)
* 2009 – ''
Fresh Pretty Cure!''
* 2010 – ''
Heart Catch PreCure!''
* 2011
** ''
Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger''
** ''
Suite PreCure''
** ''
Cardfight!! Vanguard''
* 2012
** ''
Smile PreCure!
is a 2012 Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation and the ninth installment in Izumi Todo's ''Pretty Cure'' metaseries, featuring the seventh generation of Cures. The series is written by Shōji Yonemura, who is best kn ...
''
**
''Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters the Movie''
* 2013 – ''
The Wind Rises''
* 2014 – ''Yokai Watch
''
* 2015
** ''
Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture'' & ''
Maria the Virgin Witch'' (Winter)
**
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' (
Golden Week)
** ''
Shaun the Sheep Movie'' (Before Summer)
** ''Yokai Watch'' (Summer)
* 2016
**
Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama (Golden Week)
** ''
Aikatsu Stars!'' (Summer)
* 2017
**
Kamisama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama (Golden Week)
** ''
Snack World'' (Summer)
** ''
Love Live! Sunshine!!'' (Autumn)
* 2018
** ''Love Live! Sunshine!!'' (Early Summer)
** ''
Gudetama'' (Summer)
** ''
The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls
is a Japanese free-to-play simulation video game co-developed by Cygames and Bandai Namco Studios for the Mobage social network platform for mobile phones. It was first released on November 28, 2011, for feature phones, and compatibili ...
'' (November)
* 2019
** Koupen-chan
**
''The Lion King'' (2019 live-action)
** ''
Love Live! School Idol Festival'' ~after school ACTIVITY~ Next Stage (also implemented in-game)
* 2020
**
Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle
**
Doraemon: Nobita's New Dinosaur
**
Stand by Me Doraemon 2
* 2022
**
Doraemon: Nobita's Little Star Wars 2021
** ''
Love Live! Superstar!!''
** ''
Strawberry Prince
is a Japanese boy band formed in June 2016. The group consists of six members: Nanamori, Jel, Satomi, Colon, Rinu, and Root. Each member is represented by an illustrated character when appearing in media.
History
Strawberry Prince was found ...
''
* 2023
** ''
Doraemon: Nobita's Sky Utopia''
** ''
Yohane the Parhelion: Sunshine in the Mirror''
Sagami Railway
Sagami Railway's stamp rally has stamps at a total of 25 stations on the
Sotetsu Main Line and
Sotetsu Izumino Line. All 25 stations have different designs, and the number of stamps is larger than in other stamp rallies. In recent years, the number of stations with stamps has been reduced.
Past collaborations
* 2008 and 2010 – previous trains that ran on the Sotetsu Line
* 2009 – Animals located at
Yokohama Zoo and Tanemaru
* 2011 and 2012 – Sotetsu Line and local trains in Tohoku
* 2013 – Local mascot characters along the Sotetsu line
* 2014 – ''
Ultraman''
* 2015 – Sounyan and Sotetsu Line trains
* 2016 – Sounyan and Sotetsu Line trains (stations reduced)
* 2017 – Sounyan and Sotetsu Line trains (stations reduced)
* 2023 – Sounyan
Convenience stores
Convenience stores are also occasional stamp rally collaborators, or will otherwise use the aesthetics of a stamp rally to conduct
rewards programs.
Lawson
* 2021 - ''
Neon Genesis Evangelion
, also known simply as ''Evangelion'' or ''Eva'', is a Japanese Mecha anime and manga, mecha anime television series produced by Gainax and animated by Tatsunoko Production, Tatsunoko, directed by Hideaki Anno and broadcast on TV Tokyo fr ...
''
Seven-Eleven Japan
* 2013-2014 - ''
Aikatsu!
is an arcade collectible card game in Bandai's '' Data Carddass'' line of machines, which launched in October 2012. The game revolves around using collectible cards featuring various clothes to help aspiring idols pass auditions. An ...
'' and ''
Kamen Rider
The , also known as ''Masked Rider Series'' (until Decade), is a Japanese superhero media franchise consisting of tokusatsu television programs, films, manga, and anime, created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. ''Kamen Rider'' media gener ...
''
Seicomart
* 2019 - Seicomart
Conventions
Stamp rallies are common features at
anime conventions
An anime convention is an event or gathering with a primary focus on anime, manga and Japanese culture. Commonly, anime conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels or college campuses. They feature a wide variety of activ ...
,
trade fairs
A trade fair, also known as trade show, trade exhibition, or trade exposition, is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, meet with industry partners and cu ...
, and conventions or expositions dedicated to Japanese or world cultures, both in Japan and internationally. In a common arrangement at anime conventions, attendees who purchase goods over a certain cost threshold at participating booths become eligible for a stamp. After completing a stamp book, they may earn a prize, usually a free merchandise item. In some cases, the purchased goods must pertain to a certain media property, and the reward is related to said property. In other cases, the reward pool is more general in nature or involves the convention itself, like a special pin. These programs may either be designed by the managers of the event or arranged among a group of independently acting booth vendors.
*
AnimeJapan at
Tokyo Big Sight
, officially known as , is a convention and exhibition center in Tokyo, Japan, and the largest one in the country. Opened in April 1996, the center is located in the Ariake Minami district of on the Tokyo Bay waterfront. Its most iconic featur ...
*
World Expo 2005
Expo 2005 was a World Expo held for 185 days between Friday, March 25 and Sunday, September 25, 2005, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, east of the city of Nagoya. Japan has also hosted Expo '70 Osaka (World Expo), Expo '75 Okinawa (Specialised Expo), ...
,
Aichi Prefecture -
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been ...
member countries
*
Anime Expo Chibi
*
PopCon Indy
* Anime Gaming Con of
Fresno, California
Fresno () is a major city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley region. It covers about and had a population of 542,107 in 2020, maki ...
* Virtual Market, produced by Japanese
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that employs pose tracking and 3D near-eye displays to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (particularly video games), e ...
startup HIKKY, allows users to participate in a virtual convention stamp rally in
VRChat.
Roadside stations
Stamp rallies are held at
roadside stations (''michi no eki'', 道の駅) throughout Japan for each region (the jurisdiction of the regional development bureaus of the
).
The 2023-2024
Hokkaido
is Japan, Japan's Japanese archipelago, second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost Prefectures of Japan, prefecture, making up its own List of regions of Japan, region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; th ...
''michi no eki'' rally included 127 participating stations.
Roadside station QSL card stamping
Some
Japan Amateur Radio League members affiliated with
Kuji Sunkist Club, JR7YKK, issue ''Michi-no-Eki QRV'' (道の駅QRV) awards to
amateur radio operator
An amateur radio operator is someone who uses equipment at an amateur radio station to engage in two-way personal communications with other amateur operators on radio frequencies assigned to the amateur radio service. Amateur radio operators ...
s for collecting
QSL card
A QSL card is a written confirmation of either a two-way radiocommunication between two amateur radio or citizens band stations; a one-way reception of a signal from an AM radio, FM radio, television or shortwave broadcasting station; or the r ...
s and stamping them at roadside stations close to the sender. A special-purpose database software utility was created for logging stamped QSL cards called ''Michi-no-Eki Get's'' (道の駅 Get's).
Compensatory activities
The following are examples of stamp rallies that are not designed as travel stamp rallies, but commemorate the use of services provided by financial institutions, chain stores, government offices, etc. that are located across a wide area. The goal for hobbyists is to collect some proof of use.
Travel savings
Deposits and withdrawals are made at local
post office
A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, such as accepting letters and parcels, providing post office boxes, and selling postage stamps, packaging, and stationery. Post offices may offer additional serv ...
s, etc., and are commemorated by receiving a post office seal.
Financial Institutions
''Resona Meguri''
''Resona Meguri'' (りそなめぐり) is a stamping-related hobby in which participants visit the former Asahi Bank (
Resona Bank, Saitama Resona Bank) and make deposits to have the name of the head office or branch of the bank concerned printed in their ''Kurashi no Tsucho'' (passbook for daily life). Some people collect them at former Asahi Bank branches because the name of the main branch is printed in kanji characters on the passbook when depositing at a
cash machine (however, when using an ATM at the account branch, the name of the branch is not listed and is left blank).
In the past, even the name of the branch office of non-branch ATMs was accurately displayed, so there were some enthusiasts who went there, but now the name of the home branch that has jurisdiction over the ATM is displayed. However, nowadays, ATMs in ''Resona Personal Stations'' also display the name of the home branch if the branch code is the same as that of the home branch. When using , "RBT-XXXXXXXXX" is displayed instead of the branch name, which is a 7-digit number that corresponds to the unique code of the location where the ATM is used.
The name of the ATM branch outside the store is not printed, but the name of the mother store is printed. When a transaction is made at another bank, the name of the bank is printed or the financial institution code and branch code are printed.
Branches that are inaccessible or require permission to use include the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
Branch, the
House of Councillors
The is the upper house of the National Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, ...
Branch, and the Osaka Sales Department JR West Sub-Branch.
* The House of Councillors Branch is located in the House of Councillors Building and can be accessed from the general customer counter, but may not be available due to security reasons.
** There is also an ATM under the jurisdiction of the House of Councillors Branch in the
National Diet Library
The is the national library of Japan and among the largest libraries in the world. It was established in 1948 for the purpose of assisting members of the in researching matters of public policy. The library is similar in purpose and scope t ...
. (General customers can also use the ATM.) The House of Representatives branch is located in the first annex of the House of Representatives.
* The House of Representatives branch is located in the first annex of the House of Representatives and is not accessible unless there is a legitimate or special reason due to security reasons at the reception desk. The same applies to the JR West Branch located in the headquarters of
West Japan Railway Company
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...
(JR West).
Equivalent at regional banks
Other regional banks, such as
Michinoku Bank
is a Japanese bank that is headquartered in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture. The name “Michinoku” is distinctive in that it was the first use of hiragana in the name of a Japanese bank. Michonoku Bank, while focused on the Tōhoku region, has a n ...
and , may do the same.
In the case of Michinoku Bank, it is also displayed at the account store. In particular, in the case of Michinoku Bank, it is also called ''Michinoku Meguri''. Regional banks may not have ATMs at some of their branches, such as those in Tokyo, so in this case, they are printed only at the counter.
There are cases where this was possible before but has since been phased out. Kagawa Bank,
Aozora Bank, and
Daishi Houketsu Bank, in January 2007, May 2016, and January 2017, respectively, discontinued branch name printing when they updated their
core banking
Core banking is a banking service provided by a group of networked bank branches where customers may access their bank account and perform basic transactions from any of the member branch offices.
Core banking is often associated with retail b ...
account systems.
Others
Although it varies from financial institution to financial institution, in some cases, the branch number of the branch where the deposit or withdrawal was made is printed when the deposit or withdrawal is made.
Mizuho Bank
is the integrated retail and corporate banking unit of Mizuho Financial Group (; ), the third largest financial services company in Japan, with total assets of approximately $1.8 trillion in 2017. Mizuho is one of the three so-called Japanes ...
also falls into this category, but in its case, the Shibuya Chuo Branch Broadcast Center Sub-Branch (branch number 165, located in the restricted area of the
NHK Broadcasting Center) cannot be accessed. In rare cases, such as at
MUFG Bank
is the largest bank in Japan. It was established on January 1, 2006, following the merger of the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. and UFJ Bank Ltd. MUFG is one of the three so-called Japanese "megabanks" (along with SMBC and Mizuho). As such, ...
and , the store number of the branch where the book was written is printed regardless of the type of transaction. In the case of
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
is a Japanese multinational banking and financial services institution headquartered in Yurakucho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The group operates in retail, corporate, and investment banking segment worldwide. It provides financial products and s ...
, the store number is printed on the passbook when using an ATM of a non-branch location.
Depending on the financial institution, there are cases in which the branch code is printed in a dedicated field, or in the Abstract field or the Deposit/Payment field.
Mister Donut Card campaign
Mister Donut Meguri (ミスタードーナツ巡り) is another travel-related hobby involving visiting Mister Donut locations and purchasing more than 300 worth of merchandise to receive and collect the store's MisDo Card (ミスドカード), formerly known as the Lucky Card(ラッキーカード).
This is often practiced by people who engage with travel savings activities.
When it comes to the details, different enthusiasts have different opinions:
* Whether or not a store is considered a separate store before and after a name change
* Whether or not before and after store relocation is considered a separate store
* Whether or not the store is regarded as a separate store before and after changing the store number
* Whether or not a satellite store is permitted
On November 26, 2006, the "MisDo Card Campaign" ended and the distribution of MisDo Cards was discontinued. On December 1 of the same year, "Misdo Club" was launched nationwide, shifting to a point card system. Customers began receiving and collecting store-numbered MisDo Club point cards, receipts, and advertisements with coupons.
However, the "MisDo Club Point Card" was discontinued on September 30, 2013 (the card was completely discontinued in 2014 after one year of validity). Since then, depending on the campaign, the card distribution has been restored and the name of the issuing store has been added to the card, so that this tour is once again possible as in the past.
Lawson receipt collecting
Some enthusiasts visit
Lawson
Lawson may refer to:
Places Australia
* Lawson, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra
* Lawson, New South Wales, a town in the Blue Mountains
Canada
* Lawson, Saskatchewan
* Lawson Island, Nunavut
United States
* Lawson, Arkansas
...
locations, a major nationwide convenience store chain, and collect receipts.

Since Lawson was one of the first convenience stores in Japan to expand into all prefectures, it is often seen in travel destinations and is visited while procuring groceries for the trip. In addition, if a customer settles a bill using an
SMBC OMC Card, the name of the branch is clearly indicated on the monthly bill, making it easy to manage and catalog visits.
The following is a list of stores that are 'difficult to visit'.
* Stores on university campuses – sometimes located in areas that are off-limits to non-university personnel.
* Stores in
expressway parking areas – With few exceptions, stores in these areas are difficult to access from outside the expressway, so most stores are only accessible via the expressway. However, nowadays, the number of places that can be accessed from outside the expressway is increasing, so the degree of difficulty is decreasing compared to the past.
*
Narita Airport Branch
*
Kansai International Airport
Kansai International Airport ( ja, 関西国際空港, Kansai Kokusai Kūkō) commonly known as is the primary international airport in the Greater Osaka Area of Japan and the closest international airport to the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and ...
Cargo Building
* Corporate facilities – In many cases, these stores are only available to corporate staff. For example, Maihama BFS (Operated by Bay Food Service) is a cast-only branch located backstage at the
Tokyo Disney Resort, and is almost impossible for the general public to visit.
* Stores on the premises of the
Self-Defense Forces – Usually only available to Self-Defense Force personnel, and due to confidentiality issues, it is next to impossible for the general public to visit these stores. The store on the premises of the General Staff Office in
Itami
270px, Gogadzuka Kofun
270px, Aerial view of Itami city center
270px, Konoike inari shihi
270px, Arioka Castle ruins
) is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 197,215 in 83580 households and a ...
is open to the general public, but only a few times a year at most, so it is difficult for people from far away to visit.
CoCo Ichibanya stamp collecting
Some people make tours of branches of
CoCo Ichibanya, the largest Japanese chain of curry restaurants, sometimes abbreviated to CoCo-Ichi Meguri.
The postcards on the table are stamped with a rubber stamp of the store name and the store number, and in a narrow sense, these are collected as proof of a visit. Various souvenirs are given out at the opening of new stores, and some people travel around the country to collect them. In the past, these were yellow mugs, but recently they have become more diverse, including socks. For example, at the
Musashi-Urawa Station
is a junction passenger railway station located in Minami-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East).
Lines
Musashi-Urawa Station is served by the orbital Musashino Line and the Saikyō Line which ...
East Exit store, which opened on November 24, 2005, the gift was a strap with a whistle attached.
Commemorative medal collection
Many prominent tourist attractions have
commemorative medal vending machines and engraving machines. Some people buy these medals and then use the engraving machines to imprint their names and the date of their visit on the medals for preservation.
Game Center Meguri
Some people set out to visit ''game centers,'' or
arcades, all over Japan. In particular,
Konami
, is a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo, it also produces and distributes trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, pachinko machines, slot machines, and arcade cabinets. Konami has casi ...
's
rhythm game
Rhythm game or rhythm action is a genre of music-themed action video game that challenges a player's sense of rhythm. Games in the genre typically focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments, and require players to pr ...
series
Beatmania IIDX has an event called "Trip King," (行脚王) which records the number of prefectures and stores where the game is played, as well as the number of game machines played if there are multiple machines in a store, in a "Trip History" (行脚履歴) published on the Internet. Since the game center trip history is reset after the series has been in operation for about a year, some players aim to visit game centers nationwide every time a new installment becomes available.
Gotochi card collection
*
*
Government documents
Resident certificate collection
Local governments participating in the
Basic Resident Registry Network
The or is a national registry of Japanese citizens. It was ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court of Japan on March 6, 2008 amidst strong opposition.
The percentage of popularization of the smartcard (called ''Juki-card'') is so low ratio ...
, or Juki Net, can obtain ''
jūminhyō
A (resident record or residence certificate) is a registry of current residential addresses maintained by local governments in Japan. Japanese law requires each resident to report his or her current address to the local authorities who compile t ...
'' (住民票, resident certificates) from each other. Using this system, some people visit city, ward, town, and village offices and branch offices nationwide to obtain and collect their own residence certificates as a hobby. Because resident certificates are used to register
''inkan'', they are also often stamped. Some people collect various kinds of certificates of residence, and find that the different designs of the certificates, which are unique to each municipality, and the different
typeface
A typeface (or font family) is the design of lettering that can include variations in size, weight (e.g. bold), slope (e.g. italic), width (e.g. condensed), and so on. Each of these variations of the typeface is a font.
There are thousands ...
s of the municipal
seals are good keepsakes.
Some enthusiasts aim for ''jūminhyō'' with special dates, such as the last day of a municipality that changes its name due to a
municipal merger, the first day of a new merged municipality, or the last day of issuing a resident card in the name of the mayor before the municipality becomes an
ordinance-designated city. However, as for the first day, it is difficult to obtain them because the resident card net may not be available for several days after the new municipality is inaugurated.
In the case of a vacancy caused by the arrest, sudden death, or resignation of the mayor of a municipality while in office, the name of the issuer, the mayor, is sometimes crossed out with a double line at the end and the name is changed to "deputy mayor". At such a time, hobbyists might also try to collect PR papers.
Examples of specially designed residence certificates are listed below.
* Since
Tama, Tokyo is the home of
Sanrio Puroland, a certificate of residence with an illustration of
Hello Kitty
, also known by her full name , is a fictional character created by Yuko Shimizu, currently designed by Yuko Yamaguchi, and owned by the Japanese company Sanrio. Sanrio depicts Hello Kitty as an anthropomorphized white cat with a red bow and n ...
will be issued. However, if you do not specifically request one when applying for the certificate, it will be issued on a regular form. The fee is 400 yen, double that of the standard form.
*
Sakaiminato, Tottori issues resident certificates with a watermark of a
GeGeGe no Kitarō character's geographical crest. Sakaiminato is the hometown of Kitaro's
mangaka
A is a comic artist who writes and/or illustrates manga. As of 2006, about 3,000 professional manga artists were working in Japan.
Most manga artists study at an art college or manga school or take on an apprenticeship with another artist be ...
. The fee is 300 yen.
*
Hokuei, Tottori, which has advertised itself as "Conan Town", is issuing residence certificates using paper with an illustration of a character from ''
Detective Conan''. Even with watermarks, the main character,
Conan Edogawa, is prominently displayed in the center of the form, which attracted attention to the town office. The fee is 300 yen.
Kuki, Saitama began offering a ''
Lucky Star Lucky Star, The Lucky Star or Lucky Starr may refer to:
Art, entertainment, and media Anime and manga
* ''Lucky Star'' (manga), a manga, anime, and video game series
* "Lucky Star", one of the Angel Frames from the anime and manga series ''Galaxy ...
''-themed marriage form in 2020, with character illustrations bounding the intended area for a couple's
''jitsuin''. The fee starts at 350 yen.
Collection of border and immigration material
As travelers collect
passport stamps on their
passport
A passport is an official travel document issued by a government that contains a person's identity. A person with a passport can travel to and from foreign countries more easily and access consular assistance. A passport certifies the perso ...
s, collecting stamps becomes an objective. There are many secret enthusiasts. Some try to collect as many stamps as possible, and some try to collect as many stamps as possible even if they overlap. The stamps themselves are free.
Others decide to leave Japan from a different location from the previous one as much as possible. However, if someone uses an automated immigration terminal, they will not receive a stamp.
Business behavior
When many
business sector
In economics, the business sector or corporate sector - sometimes popularly called simply "business" - is "the part of the economy made up by companies". It is a subset of the domestic economy, excluding the economic activities of general gove ...
companies sign a contract with each other, a contract must be drawn up and stamped with the
company seal
A company seal (sometimes referred to as the corporate seal or common seal) is an official seal used by a company. Company seals were predominantly used by companies in common law jurisdictions, although in modern times, most countries have don ...
(''
jitsuin'') of each company. This is sometimes colloquially, or jokingly, called a "stamp rally," in which the person in charge of contract administration visits each company to have the company seal stamped. In the worst cases, the stamp rally involves a long trip to the same company to have the seal stamped by visiting the department manager of the staff member in charge of the application, the department manager of the related department, the manager of the
procurement
Procurement is the method of discovering and agreeing to terms and purchasing goods, services, or other works from an external source, often with the use of a tendering or competitive bidding process. When a government agency buys goods or ser ...
department, and the manager of the staff member in charge of the
accounting department.
In popular culture
* In ''
Animal Crossing: New Horizons'', a virtual stamp rally was held during the International Museum Day event.
Nintendo also brought this stamp rally into the real world by collaborating with Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in
Yokohama
is the second-largest city in Japan by population and the most populous municipality of Japan. It is the capital city and the most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a 2020 population of 3.8 million. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of ...
, Umigatari
Joetsu Aquarium, and the
Seattle Aquarium
The Seattle Aquarium is a public aquarium in Seattle, Washington, United States, located on Pier 59 on the Elliott Bay waterfront. It opened in 1977 and has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
History
Plans for a ...
.
* A stamp rally is held in the 51st episode of ''
Pokémon the Series: Black & White'', the 708th overall episode of the
Pokémon anime.
* "Merit Stamp Cards" are part of the quest reward system in ''
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch''. A sheet of stamps must be completed in order to earn a reward ability, and different quests garner different numbers of stamps based on difficulty.
* A stamp rally collection features in ''
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe'' for the
Nintendo Switch
The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a tablet that can either be docked for use as a home console or used as a portable device, making it a ...
''.''
* A stamp rally plays a part in the game design of the 2016
Grasshopper Manufacture
is a Japanese video game developer founded on March 30, 1998 by Goichi Suda. They are well known for creating titles such as '' killer7'' and the ''No More Heroes'' series.
History
The company was founded on March 30, 1998 in Suginami, Ja ...
free-to-play title,
Let it Die.
* In the Mementos section of ''
Persona 5 Royal'', modeled in part off the Tokyo subway system, points earned from stamps can be turned in to Jose in exchange for improved drop rates and experience gain rate-ups.
[{{Cite web , last=Lee , first=Julia , date=2022-10-21 , title=Persona 5 Royal Jose stamp farming guide , url=https://www.polygon.com/persona-5-royal-guide-walkthrough/23401081/jose-stamp-farming-mementos-locations , access-date=2024-02-14 , website=Polygon , language=en-US]
* The ''
Edomae Elf'' anime portrayed a stamp rally that occurred simultaneously with the broadcasting of the anime, including a rendering of the real-world stamp book.
See also
*
Eki stamp
An ''eki stamp'' (, train station stamp) is a free collectible rubber ink stamp, which is found at many train stations in Japan and Taiwan. Their designs typically feature imagery emblematic of the station's associated city or surrounding area, ...
*
Rallying
Rally is a wide-ranging form of motorsport with various competitive motoring elements such as speed tests (often called ''rally racing),'' navigation tests, or the ability to reach waypoints or a destination at a prescribed time or average speed. ...
*
Seal (East Asia)
A seal, in an East and Southeast Asian context, is a general name for printing stamps and impressions thereof which are used in lieu of signatures in personal documents, office paperwork, contracts, art, or any item requiring acknowledge ...
*
Shuin
----
A is a seal stamp given to worshippers and visitors to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan. The seal stamps are often collected in books called that are sold at shrines and temples.
The stamps are different from commemorative st ...
*
Shikoku Pilgrimage
The or is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai (''Kōbō Daishi'') on the island of Shikoku, Japan. A popular and distinctive feature of the island's cultural landscape, and with a long histo ...
*
Seichi Junrei
*
Passport stamp
*
Rail transport in Japan
Rail transport in Japan is a major means of passenger transport, especially for mass and high-speed travel between major cities and for commuter transport in urban areas. It is used relatively little for freight transport, accounting for ju ...
*
Roadside station
References
External links
Eki-Stamp.comJapan Stamp Rally Association
Wasei-eigo
Collecting
Entertainment
Hobbies
Types of travel
Tourism in Japan
Railway culture in Japan