[Traveling with Art 02] Summer Pilgrimage 2025: Encountering Artistic Goshuin Stamps

"Natsumode" is a new Japanese custom of visiting shrines and temples after July 1st. It is a way of giving thanks for the safety of the past six months since the first shrine visit in January, and praying for peace in the next six months. I recently learned that an increasing number of shrines and temples are issuing special goshuin stamps that are only available during this time, so I traveled to Kanagawa Prefecture to visit some.

[Hadano City] Izumo Taisha Sagami Branch Shrine

Izumo Taisha Sagami Branch Shrine, also known as "Kanto's Izumo-san," is a branch shrine of the Izumo Taisha sect that received a branch spirit from Izumo Taisha Shrine in Shimane Prefecture in 1888. The shrine building is a unique wooden shrine building style that combines the Taisha and Gongen styles, and is also characterized by a long offering hall called the Winged Offering Hall. The worship method is the same as that of Izumo Taisha: two bows, four claps, and one bow. The shrine enshrines Okuninushi-no-Mikoto and Kotoshironushi-no-Mikoto, affectionately known as Daikoku-sama.

After finishing my visit, here is the goshuin I received.
The limited edition handwritten goshuin stamp "Summer Pilgrimage" (initial offering: 500 yen) is an original design featuring the words "Summer Pilgrimage" and a stamp shaped like a ground cherries. The beautifully crafted "Paper Cutout Goshuin" (initial offering: 1,000 yen) has the date of your visit written in. You can also receive goshuin stamps from Ontake Shrine and Yasaka Shrine, both located within the temple grounds (initial offering: 300 yen each, or a set of three shrines for 1,000 yen).
On August 7th, the large shimenawa (sacred rope) hanging from the shrine building was replaced with a new one weighing approximately 120 kg, brought from Shimane. A special exhibition is planned for the New Year in 2026, where worshippers can touch the old shimenawa and share in its blessings before it is burned and returned to the earth.

Izumo Taisha Sagami Branch Shrine
Address: 1221 Hirasawa, Hadano City
Phone number: 0463-81-1122
Official website: here
*The limited edition Goshuin stamp "Summer Pilgrimage" ends on August 31st

[Fujisawa City] Enoshima Shrine

Enoshima Shrine, located on Enoshima Island, is a prestigious shrine dedicated to Japan's three great Benzaiten deities. Visitors can circle the island to visit the three shrines: Hetsumiya, dedicated to Tasunatsuhime; Nakatsumiya, dedicated to Ichizushimahime; and Okutsumiya, dedicated to Takirihime. There are also many spots where you can feel the sea breeze, attracting many worshippers from both Japan and abroad.

There are 10 types of goshuin stamps in total, and this time I chose these two.
The "Enoshima Shrine Sannomiya General Seal" (initial offering fee 300 yen) was stamped with a red seal for visiting on a snake day, as our visit fell on the "Snake Day" festival day when Benzaiten is worshipped. The "Okutsumiya Ceiling Painting Turtle Seal Glancing in All Directions" (initial offering fee 300 yen), which prays for protection from all directions and the bringing of good fortune, is received on hosho paper. The contrast between the ink characters and the red seal on both is beautiful.

Enoshima Shrine
Address: 2-3-8 Enoshima, Fujisawa City
Phone number: 0466-22-4020
Official website: here

Honmoku Shrine, Naka Ward, Yokohama

Every year in early August, Honmoku Shrine holds the Ouma Nagashi ritual, a designated intangible folk cultural asset of the prefecture. This event, which is held to expel (release) evil spirits (gods), marked its 460th anniversary this summer since its founding in 1566. The Ouma, made from woven thatch, have the appearance of a horse from the neck up and a turtle's body, and are approximately 50cm to 1m in size, including the wings on their heads and long tails. All misfortunes are entrusted to the six Ouma, which are then carried offshore from Honmoku and floated away into the sea.

All of the August goshuin stamps feature the Ouma Nagashi festival, and an original tissue paper with an illustration of a festival boat and other objects is pasted on top of the handwritten goshuin stamp. The "Ouma Nagashi" preservation sponsorship commemorative goshuin, which features a double-page spread with an illustration of a horse and an old-style wooden festival boat, is a special stamp that is only awarded to sponsors who donate 1,000 yen or more, and the initial offering will be used to support the preservation of the Ouma Nagashi festival. Due to the importance of preserving the region's important spiritual culture for future generations, it has continued to be awarded since September.

Honmoku Shrine
Address: 19 Honmoku Wada, Naka Ward, Yokohama City
Phone number: 045-621-7611
Official website: here
*The "Seasonal Goshuin - Summer" campaign ends on August 31st.

[Isogo Ward, Yokohama City] Negishi Hachiman Shrine

Negishi Hachiman Shrine is a beloved local shrine with its origins in the sea of Negishi. The shrine forest behind the shrine is part of the old Negishi coastline and has been selected as one of Kanagawa's 50 most beautiful forests.
The goshuin stamps lined up in the shrine office are like works of art. In November 2024, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, who won the SMBC Japan Series 2024 professional baseball tournament, issued a special goshuin stamp entitled "Yokohama Victory Limited Edition," which became a hot topic.

This time, we received the July-only double-page goshuin stamp "Utakata no Saibi" (initial offering: 500 yen), the summer-only goshuin stamp (initial offering: 350 yen), and the motorcycle goshuin stamp (350 yen). The motorcycle goshuin stamp shown in the photo is available until the end of September, and some people come to get one while on a tour. For those who are unable to visit the shrine for various reasons, the stamps are available online. For the goshuin stamps available only in September, please see the "Online Shrine Office" on the official website.

Negishi Hachiman Shrine
Address: 1-1 Nishimachi, Isogo Ward, Yokohama City
Phone number: 045-753-6666
Official website: here
*All stamps except for "Motorcycle Goshuin" have been discontinued.

This summer pilgrimage allowed me to clear my mind even in the sweltering heat. It looks like the hot weather will continue for a while longer this year. Why not continue visiting shrines and temples and collecting goshuin stamps in autumn and beyond?

Text by Mai Shimura (editor/writer)