Stamping during this trip
This trip was an impromptu trip and so I had planned out just a little bit. I decided to try and get a few things done that I had skipped over.
I arrived at Narita Airport in the evening, so I had a few hours before everything closed down. I was flying out in the early morning for Ehime, Shikoku.
I got the Keisei Narita-Kaiun pass and used it to go around to nearby Keisei stations. The pass only covers Keisei Narita station and back, but I didn’t know as I went to a couple of stations further. Luckily the staff was cool and let me stamp and get back on the trains.
I also got the Keisei stamp book for their stamps. I did get doubles because I was in the vicinity and I was hoping to get a cleaner version.
I stayed at the 9hrs at Narita airport and when I woke up and headed to Terminal 3, I stamped the terminal 3 stamp by the luggage check in area. When I landed in Matsuyama airport, I also stamped what was there.
As I started going around Matsuyama’s castles and train stations, I stamped what I came across. This included JR and Iyotetsu’s stations, Matsuyama Ropeway and the Castles.
I also was able to go to Imabari and stamped there too.
Afterwards was a bit more of Shikoku via Utazu, Sakaide, Marugome, Takamatsu and Tokushima. I used the All Shikoku Railway pass to go down to some stations such as JR Shido and Todatsu stations.
Sakaide
Sakaide
Sakaide
Marugome
The next day, I decided to go all the way to Hiroshima. I had unfinished business there. While I have gotten the JR Hiroshima stamps before, I didn’t get the Hiroshima Castle gojoin and 100 Best Castles stamps in 2023 and 2024. I decided to do it this time.
I also used the Hiroden tram and Astram Line from Shin-Hakushima station (JR station had a stamp). Hiroden and Astram line didn’t have stamps.
Afterwards, I went to Kobe. I also had unfinished business in Kobe. I went last year and got a few stamps in that area, but when I went to Kobe Port Tower for my All Japan Towers stamp rally, the tower was closed for construction. I did have some JR, Kobe Subway and Hankyu stamps from last time, but this time, I spent the day shopping around and getting the subway stamps.
After that day, I headed to my place in Osaka, where I would spend a few nights. I have already gotten many of the JR stamps in Osaka, mainly the Osaka Loop line and most of the stations within the Loop itself, but I was missing 1 station, JR Shin-Fukushima (in Osaka). So I got that one along with a nearby station, Ebie station.
I headed to Osaka Expo, starting with using Osaka Metro’s line. I had gotten most of the Osaka Metro stations within the ‘Loop’, but I needed to complete SOME lines (which ended up me completing all lines). I started with Nodashima and Tamagawa stations, before going straight to Osaka Expo, which the new station, Yumeshima, also had it’s own stamp.
After leaving Osaka Expo (I went during the last couple hours), I got on Osaka Metro going back… it was so packed, I decided to get off at Cosmosquare to get stamps. The next few subways were not as packed, but I also got all the stations leading back to where I was staying.
The next couple of days, I would use the various trains to go around while hitting up some places to shop. I usually wake up early to get a few stamps as nothing was opening up until 10am (Golden Week time). I was able to reach the outreaches of the where I wanted to go using the Osaka Metro subway and also connect with the Osaka Monorail and even get 2 of their stamps.
The next day, I was planning on heading to Iga-Ueno, but decided to do more shopping. I figure get some of the Osaka Metro stations just outside the Loop and then get no the JR line and go around outside of Osaka. When I saw that many of the terminal stations for Osaka Metro were along the way, I decided to finish all those lines and that is what I did.
That was a rough day lol. Most of the morning and early afternoon. Here are the JR stations (exlclude Zeze as I did that the next day in Kyoto). The next day, I also decided before leaving Osaka to complete the last line, Osaka Metro’s New Tram line.
Before I left, I got the new JR Bentencho station’s eki stamp, which has Osaka Expo theme.
I would also attempt to get 3 more JR stations (going towards Universal Studios Japan), but the 1st station, JR Ajikawaguchi station had their stamp removed and that just kind of put me off on going to the rest.
One the way to Nagoya, I would stop by Kyoto. I got many of the stations prior, but I was trying to get to Zeze Castle for the gojoin and 100 Best stamps, but it was taking too long, so I just got 3 station stamps on the way back to Kyoto station: Zeze, Otsu and Yamashima stations.
I stopped by the Kyoto Railway museum, but unfortunately, there wasn’t ANY stamps! I did get the stamp for Umekoji-Kyotonishi station (I also got last year) and the Information center in Kyoto station.
I reached Nagoya that evening and I know that Nagoya is pretty dry for stamps unless there is a stamp rally. One of the goals was to get another All Japan Tower done, which was Higashiyama Sky Tower. I was able to get it done, but barely! I almost didn’t make it.
I knew that the Linimo line had a stamp their connection station with Nagoya subway, so I went to get it. I then saw they had 2 more stamps available in other stations.
I read on Funakiya Stamp’s site that Tajimi had an eki stamp. I verified that they DO NOT and also the tourist information center there has not stamp as well.
I did go after some Tetsuin for Aichi Loop line and TJK, but they both did not have any stamps! Again Nagoya was DRY!!!
I did go the SC MagLev museum and while Omiya and Kyoto had no stamps, this one did. Mini stamp rally within the museum.
The train that brings you to this area is the Aonami Line, which is a 3rd sector railway. For some reason, I decided to ask the staff member at the terminal station (Kinjo-futo) where the museum and Legoland are located… and to my surprise… HE HAD A STAMP!!!
Once I got back to Nagoya station, I decided to ask if they had a stamp… but there wasn’t one.
I returned to Tokyo and went to my area I decided to stay in, Ichigaya. The station is on the JR Chuo Sobu line and shares with with 2 Tokyo Metro lines and 1 Toei subway line. Since it isn’t part of the Yamanote line (which is a loop), I decided to get some of the JR stamps on the line as well as spend the evening getting some Toei subway stamps. I was taken aback by Toei’s Jimbocho station as the stamp wasn’t available, but in it’s replacement, stickers were. Troubling signs that maybe eki tag (digital eki stamps) or stickers might replace the physical, ink stamps.
My final day was more shopping, but I decided to go down to Yokohama. I did get some stamps and do the Star Wars stamp rally since I was there.
I was really “stamped out” by the end of this trip. I got a lot of good stuff and knocked off many eki stamps! Now when I go back to Osaka, I don’t have to worry about getting Osaka Metro stamps LOL.