Let's start collecting red seals with Kyoto's stylish red seal books! Kyoto limited design collection.

Many people think of "red seal" when they think of shrines and temples.
The "red seal" itself tends to attract attention, but the red seal book used to collect red seals also has a variety of designs, such as those depicting warlords unique to Kyoto or Kyoto's scenery.

If you don't have a red seal book yet but would like to start collecting red seals, why not start with one of the cute red seal books available in Kyoto? Why not start with a cute red seal book available in Kyoto?

Even if you already have a red seal book, you may want to have a new Kyoto-specific red seal book for use when you visit Kyoto.
Please take a look to the end and find a red seal book that interests you.

Table of Contents

• What is a red seal or red seal book anyway?
• ■Toji Temple
• Eikando
• ■Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
• ■Uji Shrine
• ■Shouan-in
• Byodoin Temple (Inaba-do Hall)
• ■Saiin Kasuga Shrine
• Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple
• Shimogamo-jinja Shrine
• Ginkakuji Temple
• ■Takayama Temple
• Imamiya Shrine
• ■Zuishin-in
• ■Jissoin
• Oharano Shrine
• summary

What is a red seal or red seal book anyway?

What is a "0 red seal"?

A red seal is a sign that you have visited a shrine or temple. It is a record of your connection with the deity. A red seal is written in ink with a seal, the name of the shrine or temple, and the name of the deity. The amount of red seal, called hatsuho ryori or nokyo ryori, ranges from 300 yen to 500 yen, but it depends on the shrine or temple, so please check in advance. (Due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, red seals may not be available for writing or for choosing the type of seal.)

What is a red seal book?

It is bad manners to collect red seals by asking for them in an ordinary notebook. Red seal impression books are purchased at bookstores, shrines, and temples. There are a variety of designs in red seal books, and prices range from 1,000 yen. So, what kind of kawaii red seal booklets are available in Kyoto? We would like to introduce some of them.

Toji Temple

Toji Temple is the only remaining remnant of the Heian-kyo Palace. The five-story pagoda towering over the temple grounds is popular among many tourists.

Red seal book is autumn leaves

Cherry blossoms (pink)

Cherry blossoms (red)

Yellow

turtle (tortoise)

There are five different designs. The red cherry blossoms come in red and pink, and the red cherry blossoms have a very stylish black background. The pink version is gorgeous with many cherry blossoms. The red book with autumn leaves spread over the entire surface is also very nice.

Address: 1 Kujo-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto City

Access: 15 min. walk from Kyoto Station

Eikando (temple building)

Eikando is a popular sightseeing spot in the Higashiyama area of Kyoto City. It was built by Shashao, a disciple of Kukai. Its official name is "Zenrin-ji Temple" and it is famous for its autumn leaves. Eikando has a red seal book whose entire surface is covered with colorful autumn leaves, and the contrast of the overlapping foliage is fascinating.

Address: 48 Eikando-mae-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City

Access: 15 min. walk from Kyoto Municipal Subway Keage Sta.

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine has a plum garden and is known for the many visitors who come to view the plum blossoms after January. Red seal impression books of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine are available in plum and sword designs. The ume (plum) design red seal book comes in light blue, pink, green, etc., and is fashionable. There is also a red seal bag with the same design, which can be purchased as a set. Onikirimaru's red seal book has a cool wooden cover. You may have a hard time deciding which one to choose.

Address: Bakuro-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City

Access: A short walk from Kitano Tenmangu-mae bus stop on routes 50 and 101 of the city bus from JR Kyoto Station.

Uji Shrine

Uji City has various cultures and histories centering on the Uji River. Uji is also called "Uji," and rabbit designs can be seen here and there throughout the town. It is also famous as the setting of the Tale of Genji and as a production center of Uji tea.

The red seal book of Uji Shrine depicts a rabbit flying around,

White

Light blue

Purple

Pink

There are four colors available. Also, the red seal book bag is a matcha color with a cute rabbit one-pointed design.

Address: 1 Uji Yamada, Uji City, Kyoto, Japan

Access: 7 minutes walk from "Uji Station" of Hankyu Railway Uji Line

Shouan-in era (1171.4.21-1175.7.28)

Shoan-in Temple, located in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto City, is famous for its wide variety of red seals with adorable illustrations.

The red seal book also has a soothing loose illustration of Jizo! In addition to yellow, white and green are also available.

Address: 22 Zenkojiyama-cho, Saga Nison-in Monzen, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto

Access: 10 min. walk from Torokko Arashiyama Sta. on the Sagano Sightseeing Line

Byodoin Temple (Inaba-do Hall)

Byodoin Temple (Inaba-do) is known for its cute animal red seal book. Byodoin Temple (Inaba Hall) is popularly known as Inaba Yakushi (Medicine Hall) and is famous for its cancer-fighting benefits. There are various types of red seal impression books with patterns of birds, cats, zodiac signs, etc., which have become a hot topic on the Internet. The amulets are also decorated with birds and cats, so animal lovers will not be disappointed.

Address: 728, Inabando-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City

Access: 5 min. walk from Gojo Sta. on the municipal subway.

Saiin Kasuga Shrine

This shrine is one of the 16 shrines on the Nishioji pilgrimage. The shrine is famous as a god of good luck since it cured the illness of the imperial princess, Princess Takako. The red seal book has a simple design of a descending wisteria and a white deer with a dignified pure white deer. The wisteria is woven with gold thread, and the chic black background makes it look comfortable for men to carry.

Address: 61 Saiin Kasuga-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto

Access: 4 minutes on foot from Saiin Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line

Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple

The Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple is said to have been founded by Kobo Daishi, Kukai. The highlight of Adashino Nenbutsuji is the view of over 8,000 stone pagodas enshrined in the temple. You will be overwhelmed by the atmosphere. Since you can enjoy nature in each of the four seasons - cherry blossoms in spring, autumn leaves in fall, and snowy landscape in winter - the red seal book and four types are designed with the image of the four seasons in mind. The pink color of the cherry blossoms and the stone pagoda and the orange color of the autumn leaves and the stone pagoda are both elegant and beautiful.

Address: 17 Saga-Toriihon-Kakano-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto

Access: 30 min. walk from Arashiyama Sta. of Keifuku Electric Railway

Shimogamo Shrine

Shimogamo Shrine is also famous for its Mitarashi dango. The red seal book has a cute and simple design with the crest of chrysanthemum and wisteria as well as the divine crest, Futaba-Aoi. It is available in white, pink, and navy blue, and the embroidery of the crest is very attractive.

Address: 59 Shimogamo-Izumigawa-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City

Access: From Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line, get off at Kitaoji Station on the Subway Karasuma Line, and take city bus No. 1 or 205 to Shimogamo-jinja-mae.

Ginkakuji Temple

The official name of Ginkakuji Temple is "Higashiyama Jishoji Temple" and is one of the pagoda temples of Shokokuji Temple. Since the Edo period (1603-1867), the temple has been called Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) and Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion). There are about 5 kinds of red seal booklets in Ginkakuji Temple. The design of Ginkakuji is embroidered with silver thread. The design is the same, but if you choose a different color, the atmosphere will change and it will be very elegant.

Address: 2 Ginkakuji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City

Access: Kyoto Stn. to "Ginkakuji-mae" bus stop on City Bus No. 100.

alpine temple

Kozanji Temple is a World Heritage Site located in Ukyo-ku, Kyoto. The temple was founded in the Nara period (710-794) and has long been famous for its autumn foliage and possesses temple treasures such as "caricatures of birds, animals, and humans. The design of the red seal book is also a caricature of birds and animals, and the figures of rabbits, monkeys, frogs, etc. are retro and cute.

Address: 8 Umegahata Tsugao-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

Access: Kyoto Stn. to "Tsugario" or "Shuyama" by city bus on Takao/Keihoku line

Imamiya Shrine

Imamiya Shrine, also known as "Tamanokoshi Shrine," is popular among young women as a shrine of good fortune. The red seal book of Imamiya Shrine is embroidered with Kyoto vegetables such as eggplants, turnips, carrots, and shishito peppers. The reason for the kyo yasai (Kyoto vegetables) is said to have been designed by Katsura Shoin, who devoted herself to the revival of Imamiya Shrine and was the daughter of a green grocer. The colors are white peach, white navy blue, and white scarlet.

Address: 21, Shino Imamiya-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

Access: Short walk from "Imamiya-jinja-mae" bus stop (No.46 city bus from Kyoto Sta.)

Mizushin-in Temple (Shimane)

Zuishin-in Temple is said to be where Ono no Komachi, who was said to be a beautiful woman, spent her last years, and if you open the red seal book, you will see her figure and a waka poem designed on it. The cover of the red seal book is covered with small flowers, giving it a glamorous look.

Address: 35 Ono-Goryo-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

Access: 5 min. walk from Ono Sta. on the Subway Tozai Line

Jisso-in (temple in Kyoto)

Jisso-in Temple is popular among women not only for healing illnesses, but also for bringing children and good luck. The red seal book is a modern one that has been distributed since 2014.

This Japanese-bound red seal book with pops of pink, purple, and orange chrysanthemums is very popular among young women.

Address: 121 Iwakura Kamizoumachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

Access: Subway Karasuma Line from Kyoto Station to Kokusaikaikaikan-mae Station, Kyoto Bus #24 bound for Iwakura Jissoin

Oharano Shrine

Oharano Shrine has many autumn leaves, green maples in spring and summer, and red leaves in autumn. The red seal book with a motif of such autumn leaves is very cute. The divine deer, which are the messengers of Oharano Shrine, sit in red and white pairs, and beautiful autumn leaves are scattered around them.

Address: 1152 Minamikasuga-cho, Oharano, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

Access: 8 min. walk from "Minamikasuga-cho" bus stop by Kyoto City Bus.

summary

A red seal is a symbol of your visit to a shrine or temple. There are various designs of red seal impression books, ranging from simple to cute. Please take your time to choose one when you visit a shrine or temple.