What goshuin are, how to ask for one, what they cost, and what to know about goshuincho books and pre-written sheets. A practical guide for visitors to Tokyo temples and shrines.
- Goshuin began as proof that a copied sutra had been offered at a temple and later became proof of a visit.
- The usual fee is a few hundred yen, typically JPY 300 to 500, and differs by temple or shrine.
- When it is busy, some places give a pre-written sheet instead of writing in your book.
Next Step
Try the brush yourself
A 60-minute beginner class near Ueno and Asakusa, guided in English, with a finished piece to take home.
What a goshuin is
A goshuin (御朱印) combines brush writing in black ink, usually the name of the temple or shrine, its main deity, and the date, with one or more red seals. It is written by a priest or staff member at the temple or shrine office.
Goshuin are said to have started as receipts given when a visitor offered a hand-copied sutra to a temple. Over time they became proof of a visit, and by the Edo period shrines were also giving them.
How to ask for one
Visit and pray first. Then go to the office where charms and amulets are sold, often marked 授与所 or 御朱印, and hand over your goshuincho opened to a blank page. Wait while it is written, then pay the fee.
Have coins ready. The fee is called hatsuhoryo at shrines and nokyoryo at temples and is usually JPY 300 to 500, though it varies. Check the sign at the office for the current amount.
- Pray first, then ask at the office
- Hand over your book open to a blank page
- Pay the posted fee, usually JPY 300 to 500
Goshuincho books and pre-written sheets
A goshuincho is a folding book made for collecting goshuin. Many temples and shrines sell their own, and stationery shops carry them too, usually for about JPY 1,000 to 2,000.
On busy days or at some places, you may receive a kakioki, a goshuin written in advance on a separate sheet. You can keep it as is or paste it into your book later.
Etiquette
A goshuin is a record of worship, not a souvenir stamp, so visit the main hall before asking. Avoid asking in the last minutes before the office closes, and do not photograph staff while they write unless you have asked.
Seeing the brushwork up close
Goshuin are written quickly and confidently, often in a flowing style. If you want to understand how those strokes are made, a calligraphy class lets you hold the brush yourself.
Our classes are held in the hall of Shitaya Shrine near Ueno, a 2-minute walk from Inaricho Station on the Ginza Line, two stops from Senso-ji in Asakusa.