Goshuin & Goshuin-chô

You might have seen this when you were visiting temples and shrines.
Those beautiful note-book or maybe you saw one of the monk writing down a calligraphy on one of those note-books.


Tose calligraphy are called Goshuin : ご朱印
"Shuin" (朱印) means "Seal"
"Go" ( ご) is an honorific prefix

They are the sign of the temple. Usually the priest or monk will write the name of the temple, the date of the day of your visit and add the stamps of the temple.
At the beginning Goshuin were considered like something very special and only given to real believers and ...old people. (One of the privilege of great age !) But nowadays anyone can ask for a Goshuin. It will cost you 300yens.
You can have one in either buddhist or shinto temples and shrines. It is considered as a proof of your visit and lot of people collect them in the Goshuin-Chô. The beautiful and official note-book for Goshuin that you can buy in those very same temples and shrines. (Price is usually around 1000~2000yens).

And what if you forgot your Goshuin-chô ?!
Well, first of all carry it anytime you have even the slightest chance to go across a temple. (This is my advise) but if you forgot it you can ask for a Goshuin on a paper... that you will glue on your goshuin-chô (it's a sad but we all have to go through this eventually).

Sum it up :
Goshuin : Seal of temples and shrines.
Where : In most of buddhist or shinto sanctuary.
Price : 300yen

Goshuin-chô : Note-book for Goshuin
Where : In most of buddhist or shinto sanctuary.
Price : 1000~2000yens