To get a goshuincho you can purchase one at most major temples and shrines or even at stationary shops like Loft and Tokyu Hands or departments and even online.
It's recommended that you purchase your goshuincho at the first temple or shrine you visit in Japan.
Goshuincho's in Japan are very cheap and not expensive at all.
Many religious sites in Japan like Temples and Shrines sell goshuincho directly.
A goshuincho is a Japanese accordion-style notebook specifically designed for collecting goshuin stamps from temples and shrines.
The goshuin stamps are sacred stamps, that often feature red ink and calligraphy, and act as a memento of a visit to Japan.
Each one also validates a pilgrimage to a specific location and goshuinchos are a traditional and respected souvenir from Japan and they are not to be confused with ordinary books.
A goshuin in Japan is a shrine stamp or Japanese temple, a collection of red and black ink stamps and calligraphy which serves as a record of a visit and a souvenir.
To get a goshuin in Japan, you present a special notebook that is called a goshuincho and then pay a small fee, which is usually between ¥300 and ¥1000.
The stamps for goshuin are then often created by hand by priests or temple staff, making each one of them unique to it's location.
A goshuin includes a stamped image or a design, which varies by location.
And the shrine or the temple's name and the date of your visit, is written in black ink by an official or a priest.
To collect them you can buy a special notebook for collecting the stamps, called a goshuincho, at many shrines or temples, or sometimes at bookstores.
Then you pay the fee of between, ¥300 and ¥1000 or sometimes a donation.
Then present your book and hand the goshuincho to the staff at the designated office at the temple or the shrine.
Then wait patiently and you may be given a token and also asked to wait while your goshuin is being prepared.
Once it's ready, you will get the book back with the new stamp inside.
You should treat the goshuincho with respect, once you have it as a goshuincho is considered a spiritual item, and should not be used for anything else.
And some locations may also have specific rules, about accepting books, which contain stamps from other religious institutions.
And some places even offer special designs for events, seasons or limited times.
If you happen to forget your goshuincho, some locations might give you a goshuin on a piece of paper that you can also paste into your book later.