Nozawa Onsen Shūin Meguri
Completed the Nozawa Onsen stamp collection tour
Nozawa Onsen — a mountain hot spring village in northern Nagano — runs the Shūin Meguri (集印めぐり), a stamp collection tour across 27 stations scattered through the village. Unlike typical ink stamp rallies, Nozawa uses a frottage technique (こすりだし): participants rub a wooden scraper over carbon paper placed on embossed metal plates to reveal engraved images — one unique design per station.
The 27 stations include all 13 sotoyu (外湯, free public bathhouses) maintained by the traditional yunakama (湯仲間) hot spring fellowship system dating to the Edo period, plus 14 cultural landmarks: temples, shrines, the famous Ogama (麻釜) cooking spring, and monuments including the Dosojin fire festival site.
There is no expiration date, so the booklet can be filled across multiple visits (though some stations may be buried in snow during winter).
How to earn
This badge is awarded by Onsen Oni moderators to users who have completed the stamp collection tour (10+ stamps). Send evidence (completed stamp booklet, reward towel) through the feedback channel and moderators will grant the badge.
Rewards
- 10+ stamps — Okamoto Taro "湯" (Yu) original towel
- 20+ stamps — Choice of "湯" towel or Shūin Meguri tenugui (hand towel)
The towel features calligraphy by avant-garde artist Taro Okamoto (岡本太郎), who first visited Nozawa in 1974 and became the village's first honorary resident in 1991. His bold "湯" character has become the village's most recognizable symbol.
Getting started
- Purchase the stamp booklet (集印帳, ¥550) at the tourist information office or village souvenir shops
- Visit the 27 stations and collect rubbings using the provided scrapers
- Present your completed booklet at the tourist office to claim your reward