The popularity of Goshuin stamps and visits to spiritual spots like shrines and temples is not a show of faith, experts say, but instead suggests people feel an affinity for the traditions without a need to be deeply involved. Some compare the stamp collecting to a blessed version of baseball cards.
I mean the shrines are like beautiful tiny parks mixed in evenly with the rest of the urban structures, even in the middle of downtown Tokyo. It’s easy to see how people would be drawn to them, even if they know nothing about the religion.