Latest news with #Eiheiji
Japan Times
11-05-2025
- Science
- Japan Times
Japan's first dinosaur department opens at university in Fukui
Japan's first university department dedicated to dinosaur research opened last month in a prefecture in a prefecture known for major dinosaur fossil discoveries. The Faculty of Dinosaur Paleontology at Fukui Prefectural University allows students to engage in cutting-edge research by participating in fossil excavations in cooperation with museum staff. It welcomed 34 students in April at the campus in the Fukui town of Eiheiji near mountains where fossils of many new dinosaur species — including the Fukuiraptor — were found. During their four-year degree course, students will study techniques required for dinosaur research, including geological exploration, fossil replica creation, CT scanning and 3D modeling. Teachers include five world-renowned dinosaur researchers. In their second year, students will move to the campus located in Katsuyama, which is being built adjacent to the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, to acquire practical skills in cooperation with museum staff. In mid-April, students participated in practical training to draw the topography of a university courtyard. They were divided into groups and recorded the topography on graph paper. "It was difficult, but I want to get used to it gradually," said Amane Sato, an 18-year-old student from neighboring Gifu Prefecture. "I want to become a researcher." Ayuka Okamoto, another student who was a high school geography teacher until March, said, "I want to learn about ancient creatures and think about modern environmental problems and disaster mitigation." The establishment of the new faculty is partly designed to revitalize local communities. About 80% of the new students are from outside Fukui. "We'd be grateful if graduates would live in Fukui or take jobs related to dinosaurs," said Hiroshi Nishi, dean of the dinosaur faculty.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Yahoo
A practical guide to collecting Japan's eki stamps
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Now ubiquitous in many of Japan's 9,000 stations, the first eki stamp appeared in 1931 at Fukui station near the Sea of Japan coast, where stationmaster Kanichi Tominaga hit upon the idea of a commemorative stamp after a casual conversation with staff. Once installed, the stamp — which included an image of Eiheiji, an important Sōtō Zen temple nearby — became something of a local attraction. Fast forward to the 1970s, when the Osaka World Expo triggered a surge in Japanese domestic travel. Families were encouraged to explore Japan by rail, collecting newly installed 'Discover Japan' eki stamps in major stations as they passed through the Japan National Railways (JNR) network (now known as JR, or Japan Railways). By the 1980s, the passenger boom was over and JNR's mounting financial difficulties prompted them to promote a second wave of eki stamps as part of their 'My Journey' campaign, which focused on regional charm and travel off the beaten path. But the origins of collecting seals or stamps in Japan may go back as far as 800 years to Buddhist pilgrims who gathered 'stamps' (nokyoin) for the copied sutras they offered to temples they visited. In the 1930s, ink seals with handwritten calligraphy became known as goshuin and were collected in a concertina-like book called a goshuincho, as a record of the pilgrimages made and merit accumulated. Goshuin remain popular with modern day pilgrims and travellers alike and can still be obtained for a small fee at designated booths in temples and shrines. Often available in the auspicious vermillion ink of goshuin temple seals, eki stamps are unique to the station in which they are located. Frequently circular, with the location name running around the perimeter, their designs feature a combination of landmarks, Japanese characters and meibutsu (local specialities) that give them a distinctly Japanese feel. For example, the eki stamp at Ryōgoku station in Tokyo features a sumo wrestler, reflecting the neighbourhood's 1,500-year-old connection to the national sport. Meanwhile, the world's busiest station, Shinjuku — which serves almost three million daily commuters — has a stamp that combines images of the skyscrapers at its West Exit with a quirky depiction of Naito togarashi, a local heirloom chilli pepper from Edo Tokyo. Stamps are available at JR and private railway stations, as well as many tourist attractions across Japan. 'Train is the best way to get around Japan and collecting eki stamps is something everyone can do,' says Archie Peters, an avid collector and travel consultant at InsideJapan Tours. 'I started collecting eki stamps in a little washi notebook and it grew from there. Part of the fun is finding the stamps in the station, but it also makes a great memento to look back on.' Eki stamps are free to collect. All you need is some paper or a notebook — and Japan has plenty of lovely stationery to choose from. Some stations provide paper, or even pretty stamp cards, or you can buy dedicated eki stamp notebooks in some station shops. Locate the stamp and ink pad to make an impression into your book. Stampers usually have a mark on them to indicate the top, but it is worth doing a test sheet first. Some are self-inking but often you'll find old wooden-handled stamps and well-used ink pads, resulting in a faint impression. To be sure, you could carry your own ink pad — but don't use it if the ink colour doesn't match. Make a note of the stamp location and date so you can remember it later. The Railway Museum in Saitama occasionally holds exhibitions featuring replicas of past station stamps that visitors can use, while Tokyo Metro Museum has nine original stamps — one for each subway line. Eki stamps are usually found outside the station's main ticket gate or at the Midori-no-Madoguchi (ticket counter). Occasionally, you'll find one inside the barriers or behind the counter at the station master's window. In Tokyo alone, JR East has 78 station stamps, with more to be found in the private-line stations and Tokyo Metro. In Tokyo's biggest stations (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro and Tokyo), it is worth asking for the location or searching online beforehand. If you can't find the stamp, just ask 'Eki sutampu wa arimasuka?', meaning 'Is there a station stamp?'. Japanese railway companies often hold limited-duration stamp rallies for which special stamps can be collected in a special stamp-collecting booklet or card at designated stations. Events often feature nostalgic stamp designs and a prize is usually awarded for completing it. JR Central recently hosted a rally celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Tokaido Shinkansen, while one of the most popular events is JR East's annual Pokémon stamp rally. Every eki stamp is unique but some are particularly eye-catching, such as that of Gion-Shijo station in Kyoto, which features a geisha, or Miyajimaguchi station in Hiroshima, which depicts the floating torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine — one of Japan's top tourist attractions. Hiroshima's station stamp is a 2008 design showing the A-Bomb Dome and the cenotaph in the Peace Memorial Park, with doves flying overhead. The stamp at Kuki station in Saitama is in the shape of a chochin lantern, while Kamakura's features the 13th-century Great Buddha. The iconic shinkansen features on numerous stamps including Akita's, where it appears alongside its namesake, Komachi rice. As the birthplace of Japan's railways, Shinbashi's stamp reflects its heritage with an image of the former station building and the steam locomotive in SL Square. The stamp at Nobeyama on the Koumi Line in Nagano is located at the highest-altitude station on the JR Group's network, at 4,413 feet. Digital stamps are becoming increasingly widespread, with JR East spearheading the digitisation of station stamps with EKITAG, an app (currently only available in Japanese) that allows users to collect digital stamps by scanning EKITAG touchpoints (NFC tags) using a smartphone. Stamps are collected on the app in a digital 'book' and users can add the stamps to their photos. EKITAG can be found in 1,235 stations Japan-wide, including unmanned stations, making them easy to collect. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
National Geographic
12-04-2025
- National Geographic
A practical guide to collecting Japan's eki stamps
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Now ubiquitous in many of Japan's 9,000 stations, the first eki stamp appeared in 1931 at Fukui station near the Sea of Japan coast, where stationmaster Kanichi Tominaga hit upon the idea of a commemorative stamp after a casual conversation with staff. Once installed, the stamp — which included an image of Eiheiji, an important Sōtō Zen temple nearby — became something of a local attraction. Fast forward to the 1970s, when the Osaka World Expo triggered a surge in Japanese domestic travel. Families were encouraged to explore Japan by rail, collecting newly installed 'Discover Japan' eki stamps in major stations as they passed through the Japan National Railways (JNR) network (now known as JR, or Japan Railways). By the 1980s, the passenger boom was over and JNR's mounting financial difficulties prompted them to promote a second wave of eki stamps as part of their 'My Journey' campaign, which focused on regional charm and travel off the beaten path. But the origins of collecting seals or stamps in Japan may go back as far as 800 years to Buddhist pilgrims who gathered 'stamps' (nokyoin) for the copied sutras they offered to temples they visited. In the 1930s, ink seals with handwritten calligraphy became known as goshuin and were collected in a concertina-like book called a goshuincho, as a record of the pilgrimages made and merit accumulated. Goshuin remain popular with modern day pilgrims and travellers alike and can still be obtained for a small fee at designated booths in temples and shrines. Often available in the auspicious vermillion ink of goshuin temple seals, eki stamps are unique to the station in which they are located. Frequently circular, with the location name running around the perimeter, their designs feature a combination of landmarks, Japanese characters and meibutsu (local specialities) that give them a distinctly Japanese feel. For example, the eki stamp at Ryōgoku station in Tokyo features a sumo wrestler, reflecting the neighbourhood's 1,500-year-old connection to the national sport. Meanwhile, the world's busiest station, Shinjuku — which serves almost three million daily commuters — has a stamp that combines images of the skyscrapers at its West Exit with a quirky depiction of Naito togarashi, a local heirloom chilli pepper from Edo Tokyo. Stamps are available at JR and private railway stations, as well as many tourist attractions across Japan. 'Train is the best way to get around Japan and collecting eki stamps is something everyone can do,' says Archie Peters, an avid collector and travel consultant at InsideJapan Tours. 'I started collecting eki stamps in a little washi notebook and it grew from there. Part of the fun is finding the stamps in the station, but it also makes a great memento to look back on.' How do I collect eki stamps? Eki stamps are free to collect. All you need is some paper or a notebook — and Japan has plenty of lovely stationery to choose from. Some stations provide paper, or even pretty stamp cards, or you can buy dedicated eki stamp notebooks in some station shops. Locate the stamp and ink pad to make an impression into your book. Stampers usually have a mark on them to indicate the top, but it is worth doing a test sheet first. Some are self-inking but often you'll find old wooden-handled stamps and well-used ink pads, resulting in a faint impression. To be sure, you could carry your own ink pad — but don't use it if the ink colour doesn't match. Make a note of the stamp location and date so you can remember it later. The Railway Museum in Saitama occasionally holds exhibitions featuring replicas of past station stamps that visitors can use, while Tokyo Metro Museum has nine original stamps — one for each subway line. Eki stamps are usually found outside the station's main ticket gate. Photograph by Kate Crockett Most designs feature a combination of landmarks, Japanese characters and meibutsu (local specialities). Photograph by InsideJapan Where can I find eki stamps? Eki stamps are usually found outside the station's main ticket gate or at the Midori-no-Madoguchi (ticket counter). Occasionally, you'll find one inside the barriers or behind the counter at the station master's window. In Tokyo alone, JR East has 78 station stamps, with more to be found in the private-line stations and Tokyo Metro. In Tokyo's biggest stations (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro and Tokyo), it is worth asking for the location or searching online beforehand. If you can't find the stamp, just ask 'Eki sutampu wa arimasuka?', meaning 'Is there a station stamp?'. What are stamp rallies? Japanese railway companies often hold limited-duration stamp rallies for which special stamps can be collected in a special stamp-collecting booklet or card at designated stations. Events often feature nostalgic stamp designs and a prize is usually awarded for completing it. JR Central recently hosted a rally celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Tokaido Shinkansen, while one of the most popular events is JR East's annual Pokémon stamp rally. Which stamps are most sought after? Every eki stamp is unique but some are particularly eye-catching, such as that of Gion-Shijo station in Kyoto, which features a geisha, or Miyajimaguchi station in Hiroshima, which depicts the floating torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine — one of Japan's top tourist attractions. Hiroshima's station stamp is a 2008 design showing the A-Bomb Dome and the cenotaph in the Peace Memorial Park, with doves flying overhead. The stamp at Kuki station in Saitama is in the shape of a chochin lantern, while Kamakura's features the 13th-century Great Buddha. The iconic shinkansen features on numerous stamps including Akita's, where it appears alongside its namesake, Komachi rice. As the birthplace of Japan's railways, Shinbashi's stamp reflects its heritage with an image of the former station building and the steam locomotive in SL Square. The stamp at Nobeyama on the Koumi Line in Nagano is located at the highest-altitude station on the JR Group's network, at 4,413 feet. What about digital stamps? Digital stamps are becoming increasingly widespread, with JR East spearheading the digitisation of station stamps with EKITAG, an app (currently only available in Japanese) that allows users to collect digital stamps by scanning EKITAG touchpoints (NFC tags) using a smartphone. Stamps are collected on the app in a digital 'book' and users can add the stamps to their photos. EKITAG can be found in 1,235 stations Japan-wide, including unmanned stations, making them easy to collect. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
Japan Times
15-03-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Fukui enjoys visitor boost after shinkansen extension
Fukui Prefecture enjoyed a 20% increase in visitors over the 11 months since an extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line opened in the region. Still, how to increase the number of tourists who stay at local hotels will remain a key issue in the second year of the new section, which opened on March 16 last year between Tsuruga and Kanazawa stations in the Hokuriku region. "The number of visitors from the Kanto and Shinetsu regions, viewed as a key task amid the weak yen and rising prices, is increasing. It's a big step forward," Fukui Gov. Tatsuji Sugimoto told a news conference in late January, emphasizing the impact of the extension. The line connects Hokuriku and Kanto, which includes Tokyo, via Shinetsu. About 6.42 million people visited Fukui between March 16 last year and Feb. 15 this year, up by about 1 million from a year before, according to the prefectural government. Popular tourist destinations include the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum and Eiheiji temple. But the growth has not necessarily translated into an increase in overnight stays in the prefecture, which is sandwiched between the popular tourist areas of Kyoto and Kanazawa. According to Japan Tourism Agency preliminary data, the total number of overnight stays made in Fukui in 2024 was 3.45 million for Japanese visitors, up 8.5% from the previous year, the sixth-biggest expansion among all prefectures. But the growth in overnight stays by visitors from abroad was low. The number of such stays rose 37.2% to about 90,000, lower than the national increase of 38.9%. "There are few restaurants open until late hours and nighttime tourist attractions," a Fukui government official said. In addition to increasing night events featuring food and traditional performing arts, the prefecture is working to develop tours to attract foreign nationals visiting Japan for the World Expo in Osaka, which opens next month. Its partner in the project is West Japan Railway Co. (JR West), one of the operators of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. The Hokuriku Shinkansen line is due to be extended from Tsuruga to Shin-Osaka Station. But it is unclear when construction between the two stations will start, because of the huge construction costs local governments must bear and the impact of the construction work on groundwater. "While the connection between the Hokuriku region and the Tokyo metropolitan area is strengthening, effects of the extended section have not been seen in the Kansai or neighboring Chukyo region," JR West President Kazuaki Hasegawa told a news conference last month. "It is very important to connect the line to Kansai as soon as possible."
