Japan hopes to lure tourists to national parks with "goshuin" stamps

The Japanese government recently launched an initiative it hopes will encourage foreign tourists to venture off the beaten path to the country's national parks by offering collectible stamps resembling "goshuin" which are traditionally obtained by visitors to temples and shrines.With the stamps available at all 35 of Japan's national parks, as well as from the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo, the Environment Ministry hopes visitors will find a path less trodden by creating interest in the nation's stamp-collecting tradition.Traditional goshuin are stamps provided for a fee by the pl…READ FULL ARTICLE