Senjafuda

Senjafuda, which means "thousand shrine stickers" in Japanese, are small paper stickers that are used by visitors to Japanese Shinto shrines to show that they have made a pilgrimage to that specific shrine. These stickers are usually decorated with colorful images and have the name and crest of the shrine on them.

Just like how you might collect stickers from different places you visit, people in Japan like to collect senjafuda from different shrines they visit. They use these stickers to remember their trip and to show others where they have been. It's kind of like a souvenir!

Visitors can buy senjafuda at the shrine gift shops or bring their own along with them. Often, people will place these stickers on wooden plaques called ema that they can buy at the shrine. These ema are then hung up on special boards or trees outside the shrines, where visitors can see them and share their experiences together.

In Japan, senjafuda have been used for hundreds of years, and they are a great way for people to connect with their faith, community and the country's culture.