This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Now ubiquitous in many of Japan’s 9,000 stations, the first eki stamp appeared in 1931 at Fukui station near the Sea of Japan coast, ...

You may be used to signing your name at the end of an important document, but in Japan everyone is expected to have a name stamp, called a hanko or inkan, to sign off on things like contracts and ...

In Japan, instead of writing your signature on legal documents, adults are expected to use a personal seal, called either a hanko or inkan. Usually stamped with red ink, the seal leaves a round circle ...

Japan's charming tradition of collecting 'eki stamps' from train stations offers a unique travel souvenir. These free, inked mementos, found at thousands of stations, trace their roots back to ancient ...

Japanese eki stamps (station stamps) are a charming feature of Japanese railway culture. Beloved by visitors and oshi-tetsu (train-stamp nerds) alike, collecting them as you make your way around Japan ...