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cultural Snapshots
Guide to Japan
Stamp rallies are a popular activity in Japan where participants travel around to selected locations like train stations to collect individual ink stamps in booklets.
Collect Them All
Stamp rallies are a beloved pastime in Japan, challenging participants to gather unique ink stamps from diverse locations, often in a special booklet.These tourism-boosting campaigns encourage exploration of areas, from train stations to scenic spots, rewarding participants with a sense of accomplishment as thay fill their booklets. Event organizers also benefit from increased foot traffic to participating locations.
According to Shachihata,a stamp manufacturer,the stamp rally craze began at the 1970 Osaka Expo. Initially, train-based rallies were the most common, and they remain popular today. Tho, smaller, walking-based rallies have also gained traction. The rise of smartphones has further led to digital stamp rallies, where participants scan QR codes to collect virtual stamps.
Many stamp rally events offer small prizes for completing a booklet or collecting a certain number of stamps.
(Originally written in English. Banner photo © Pixta.)
The stamp rally craze began at the 1970 Osaka Expo.
