🍃 Lead-in
When traveling in Japan, one small tradition I have come to treasure is collecting goshuin — traditional handwritten seals received at temples and shrines after prayer or a visit.
Each one feels slightly different.
Some are simple and quiet, while others are filled with seasonal colors, delicate details, or bold calligraphy reflecting the spirit of the place.
At first, I thought of them simply as beautiful souvenirs,
a quiet way to carry the memory and atmosphere of each temple or shrine home with me.
Over time, they slowly became something more like travel journals — small memories from peaceful walks, seasonal mornings, and gentle discoveries along the way.
Today, I wanted to share a few goshuin and goshuin books（御朱印帳) I found during recent visits, including some beautiful embroidered seasonal editions that felt especially memorable.
Goshuin Book from Ryusenji Temple in Nara
📖 Goshuin Books and Quiet Travel Memories
One of the things I enjoy most is choosing a goshuin book itself.
Some are elegant and traditional, while others feature flowers, dragons, seasonal motifs, or symbolic designs connected to the temple or shrine.
This purple goshuin book immediately caught my attention during the visit.
Placed against the stone and greenery outside, it somehow felt connected to the atmosphere of the journey itself — quiet, spiritual, and a little mysterious.
Even before opening it, the book already felt like part of the travel memory itself.
Goshuin from Ryusenji Temple on the right, and Izanagi Shrine on the left.
Inside, each goshuin felt completely different.
Goshuin books in Japan are made in an accordion-style format, allowing the pages to unfold continuously as the journey grows over time.
Some pages were calm and carefully balanced, while others were bold and expressive with flowing brushwork and vivid stamps.
Even without fully understanding every character, I think there is something beautiful about seeing the personality of each temple reflected through the ink.
Some goshuin include the date of the visit or the name of the shrine or temple written in beautiful calligraphy.
At Ryosenji Temple, certain goshuin feature the names of one of the eight great Dragon Kings, and different designs appear depending on the month or season.
Because of this, some visitors return regularly to collect new editions throughout the year.
⛩️ Embroidered Goshuin and Seasonal Discoveries
During another recent temple visit, I came across a beautiful embroidered goshuin connected to Benzaiten.
The combination of gold thread, waves, calligraphy, and the treasure boat design made it feel almost like a small piece of sacred art rather than simply a seal on paper.
The embroidered details were especially beautiful in person, catching the light softly depending on the angle.
Moments like this are part of what makes collecting goshuin so memorable — sometimes you unexpectedly discover something seasonal or unique during the journey itself.
Goshuin for Benzaiten at Ryosenji Temple
A week later, during another visit to Ryosenji Temple, I also found a special embroidered goshuin created for the Barae-shiki festival.
Together with the rose-themed goshuin book, it felt very elegant and gentle compared to the darker dragon-themed design from earlier in the journey.
The seasonal flowers, gold embroidery, and soft colors gave it a completely different atmosphere, showing how each temple visit can leave behind a different kind of memory.
I especially loved how delicate the embroidered details looked beside the floral goshuin book.
An embroidered goshuin for Barae-shiki, a special annual ceremony, together with a beautifully embroidered goshuin book
🌿 Kaha’s Note
Some of my friends from overseas also loved goshuin books and bought them as souvenirs during their travels in Japan.
Some used them to write small memories and reflections from the journey as well, while others filled the pages with sketches and drawings inspired by the places they visited.
I thought it was beautiful how everyone found their own personal way to use them.
In my own case, small details connected to each journey have also become part of those memories.
The butterfly-patterned goshuin book came from Tokyo Daijingu, and the band holding the pages together was purchased near Futamiura in Ise.
Even these small details now bring back quiet memories from different journeys.
Perhaps part of the joy of traveling is discovering Japanese traditions and making them part of your own creative memories along the way.
🌈 Explore more
Explore more reflections, seasonal journeys, and gentle discoveries from Japan at
コメント