Things I didn't try during my first years in Japan: collecting goshuin

One of the things I have regrets about not doing sooner in my life here is collecting goshuin. I hadn't really heard of them until I'd already been here for several years, and I think about all the goshuin I have missed out on!

For those who don't know, goshuin are the seals/stamps that most shrines and temples offer to visitors. They typically have a small fee associated with them, but I think they are one of the best ways to keep a track of your Japan adventures. They also have the benefit of being relatively lightweight compared to a lot of other souvenir options. 

A shrine stamp book I got at Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecture

If you're new to Japan, I highly recommend getting one of these to try and keep a track of all the shrines and temples you visit. It's such a nice memento and I really cherish all of the ones I've collected!