A goshuincho is a special book used to collect goshuin, the handwritten and stamped records received at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.
A goshuin usually includes not only a red seal but also handwritten calligraphy such as the name of the shrine or temple and the date of the visit. For that reason, it is somewhat different in both appearance and meaning from an ordinary tourist stamp. A goshuincho is made specifically for receiving these entries, and the most common format is an accordion-style book with folded pages.
Many shrines and temples sell their own distinctive designs, so choosing the book itself can also be part of the enjoyment. As you travel and visit different places, the handwritten characters and seals gradually build up into a record of where and when you went.
Some people even make collecting goshuin one of the main purposes of a trip. If someone privately thinks of it as being a bit like a stamp rally, there is nothing inherently wrong with enjoying it that way.
However, a goshuincho is not exactly the same thing as an ordinary stamp book. The places where goshuin are received are shrines and temples, where people come to worship and where priests, monks, and other staff carry out religious duties.
So even if collecting goshuin is your main reason for visiting, it is natural to pay your respects and follow the rules of the site. Cutting into a line, rushing the person preparing your goshuin, or disturbing other worshippers is not really a problem with “collecting” itself. It is simply inconsiderate behavior toward the people around you.
On the other hand, if you pay your respects and remain considerate of others, how much you enjoy collecting goshuin is entirely up to you.
A goshuincho is a dedicated book in which a record of shrine and temple visits gradually accumulates. It can certainly be enjoyed as a travel collection, as long as that enjoyment is balanced with respect for the religious places where the entries are received.
