Furusato Travel Scenes

The furusato travel scenes series stamp sheets are wonderful examples of Japanese hometown stamps. So far, the Japan post service has issued 15 volumes in this furusato prefecture stamps series, with volume 16 coming up in September this year.

Very colorful and bright in design, each stamp sheet features well-known travel scenes from a particular region in Japan.

Furusato Travel Scenes - Vol. 16 'Nagasaki'

Volume 16 in the Japan furusato hometown travel scenes series will be released on September 11, 2012. It will feature highlights from the city of Nagasaki in Kyushu.

The Nagasaki Japanese hometown stamps sheet is to show the following furusato travel scenes:

  1. Urakami Tenshudo - Urakami Christian Cathedral
  2. Heiwa Kinen Koen - Memorial Peace Park
  3. Double stamp: Megane-bashi - Spectacle Bridge
  4. Nagasaki Lantern Festival
  5. Soufukushi Temple
  6. Double stamp: Glover Park
  7. Nagasaki Kunchi
  8. Nagasaki Hansen Matsuri Festival

On the left, the Oura Tenshudo Cathedral is shown on the top and the famous Nagasaki night view at the bottom.

Release date for these furusato travel scenes stamps is September 11, 2012.

Print method: Offset 5 color print.

Price: US$ 15.70 (incl. shipping)

Furusato Travel Scenes - Vol.15 'Tokyo, Ueno, Asakusa, Sumidagawa Area'

Following Vol. 14. the Japan post service pleased Japan stamps collectors with furusato travel scenes series Vol. 15, once again covering Tokyo. This time around, the Japan furusato stamps sheet focused on famous sightseeing spots in Ueno, Asakusa, and the Sumidagawa River area.

The individual stamps on this Japanese hometown stamps sheet are made up of the following travel scenes:

  1. Ri-Ri, the panda bear, at Onshi Ueno Zoo
  2. Shin-Shin, the panda bear, at Onshi Ueno Zoo
  3. Double Stamp: Shinobazu Pond at Ueno Onshi Park
  4. The famous Asakusa Sensou-ji Kaminari-mon gate
  5. Asakusa's Sensou-ji Temple and Pagoda
  6. Double stamp: View of Sumidagawa river with the Tokyo skytree and the Asahi Brewery head-office in the background.
  7. Sumidagawa Koen Park
  8. Sumidagawa Hanabi Summer fireworks festival; one of the two biggest fireworks in Tokyo.

On the left, another view of the recently completed Tokyo Skytree, at present still the tallest tower in the world.

This Japan furusato travel stamps series sheet was issued on April 23, 2012.

It uses a 5 color offset print method.

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Furusato Travel Scenes - Vol.14 'Tokyo and Omotesando Area'

Volume 14 of the Japan furusato travel scenes series covers the trendy Omotesando district in Tokyo.

Travel scenes depicted from top let to bottom right are:

  1. The Yoyogi national stadium
  2. Meiji-jingu Yoyogi Park
  3. Christmas illuminations at Omotesando main avenue (double stamp)
  4. Omotesando Hills shopping complex and traditional art apartment
  5. The Shotoku Kinen Kaiga kan Art Museum
  6. The Meiji Jingu Gaien Park lined with ginkgo trees
  7. The Nezu Art Museum
  8. Nezu Museum's 'Kakisubata-zu Byobu' by Ogata Korin

The background image of this Japanese hometown stamps sheet once more show the Meiji Jingu Gaien Avenue with its ginkgo trees in full bloom.

This Japanese prefecture stamp sheet was issued on October 21, 2011.

It uses a 5 color offset print method.

Price: US$ 20.10 (incl. shipping)

Furusato Travel Scenes - Vol.13 'Hokkaido Scenes from Autumn to Winter'

Volume 13 of the Japan furusato travel scenes stamp series focuses on the northern most island of Hokkaido. It has a seasonal theme, showing travel scenes for the period from autumn to winter.

This Hokkaido Japan furusato stamps depict the following scenes on the right:

  1. Colorful fall leaves of the Daisetsuzan mountains with green marsh in front (Kamikawa town)
  2. Lake Masyu in Autumn as seen from Teshikaga town
  3. Former Hokkaido government office building in Sapporo
  4. The Sapporo Clock Tower
  5. Double stamp: View of lake Toya in Autumn as seen from Sobetsu town
  6. Hagoromo Falls near Higashikawa town
  7. Glasswort, Salicornia europaea, in Lake Notoro near Abashiri City
  8. Japanese sable, Martes zibellina brachyuran, in Nakashibetsu town
  9. Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys Volans Orii, in Shari town

The left shows a sunset of the fields and mountains of Daisetsuzan near Biei town.

This Japanese hometown stamp sheet was released on September 9, 2011.

Print method: Offset 5 color print.

Price: US$ 15.70 (incl. shipping)

Furusato Travel Scenes - Vol.12 'Hokkaido Summer Scenes'

Number 13 in the furusato travel scenes series once again centers around the island Hokkaido. However, this time around, the stamp sheet shows Hokkaido travel scenes as can be seen during a typical Hokkaido summer.

On the right the following furusato travel scenes images are shown:

  1. Spotted seal (Phoca Largha) in Asahiyama City
  2. Barley fields in Biei town, Kamikawa district
  3. Double stamp: Lavender fields in Furano City
  4. Hitsujigaoka observatory in Sapporo
  5. Naitai highland stock farm in Kami-Shihoro town, Kato district
  6. Rugosa roses and Mt. Rishiri in the background, as seen from Toyotomi town, Teshio district
  7. Double stamp: Higashimokoto Shiba-sakura koen park in Ozora town, Abashiri district

The left depicts spotted seals at the top and a polar bear at the bottom. Both images are from Asahiyama City.

This Japan furusato stamp sheet was released on September 9, 2011.

Print method: Offset 5 color print.

Price: US$ 15.70 (incl. shipping)

Furusato Travel Scenes - Vol.11 'Hokkaido Scenes from Winter to Spring'

The last volume in the Hokkaido Japan furusato travel scenes series covers the period between winter and spring.

The right hand side stamps of the furusato travel scenes series show the following images:

  1. Scene from the Sapporo snow sculpture festival held in February of every year. It is considered to be the biggest annual event in Hokkaido.
  2. Penguins walking in Asahikawa City
  3. Double stamp: Snow light path in Otaru City
  4. Lake Toya-ko in winter
  5. The Hakodate Russian Orthodox church
  6. Double stamp: Shiretoko Five lakes and mountains of Shiretoko national park, a world heritage site
  7. Tancho or Red-crowned cranes, also known as Grus Japonensis, in Kushiro
  8. Drift ice off the coast of Abashiri, Hokkaido

On the left, one can see the famous Sapporo city clock tower at the top and Sapporo's annual white illumination at the bottom.

Issue date for these Japanese hometown stamps was February 1, 201

Price: US$ 15.70 (incl. shipping)

Furusato Travel Scenes - Vol.8 'Roads Crossing the Seto Inland Sea 1'

Volume 8 in the furusato travel stamp series features the area in central Japan known as the Seto Inland Sea. Wedged between the main island of Honshu and the eastern island of Shikoku, the Seto Inland Sea is a particular picturesque part of the Japanese countryside and a perfect inspiration for the furusato travel scenes series.

On the right of this Japanese hometown stamps sheet, the following travel scenes are shown:

  1. Double stamp: Old warehouse and canal district in the city of Kurashiki
  2. Ohara Art Museum
  3. Painting exhibited at Ohara Art Museum
  4. The Seto-Ohashi Bridge between Honshu and Shikoku
  5. Kompira Shrine in Kotohira
  6. as can be seen from Marugame castle in Marugame city
  7. Double stamp: View of Sanuki Fuji area and Kuribayashi Koen Park

At the top on the left, you can see the impressive Seto-Ohashi Bridge that connects Honshu with Shikoku.

Below that, a hand-painted seen from the city of Kurashiki, Okayama prefecture, famous for its period style warehouses and canals, as well as, its pottery.

At the bottom, a further map shows the area around the city of Kotohira in Kagawa prefecture on Shikoku Island. Kotohira is known for its famous Kompirasan shrine and the historical Kanamaruza Kabuki theater.

This Japan furusato stamp sheet was issued on March1, 2010 and uses a 5 color offset print technique.

Price: US$ 15.70 (incl. shipping)

Furusato Travel Scenes - Vol.7 'Miyagi, Sendai, Matsushima'

Volume 7 of the Japan furusato travel series takes us to the sights of Miyagi and Sendai prefectures and the beautiful Matsushima Bay, counted as one of the 'three views' of Japan.

Unfortunately, all of these areas, in particular Matsushima Bay, were heavily impacted by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2011.

The right hand side of the Japanese hometown stamps sheet depicts the following furusato travel scenes:

  1. Double stamp: View of Matsushima Bay in Miyagi prefecture - a collection of 260 tiny islands covered with pine trees.
  2. Ruins of Aoba Sendai Castle, Sendai City
  3. Kuronori Gomai Dou Gusoku - a black painted five piece body armour
  4. Double stamp: View of the Ruupuru tourist tram and Jozenji Dori Temple Street in Sendai
  5. Decorations used during the Sendai Tanabata Festival
  6. Zuihoden, the mausoleum of Date Maasamune, first lord of Sendai
  7. Double stamp: Winter view of historic Rinno-ji Temple and Gardens in Sendai

On the left, one can see drawing of the Miyagi Pref. and Sendai Pref. coastline, stretching all the way from Matsushima Bay in the North to Sendai in the South.

The bottom part shows a picture of the Statue of Maasamune Date, which is located on the grounds of the Sendai castle ruins.

Issue date for these Japan furusato stamps was January 29, 2010.

Price: US$ 15.70 (incl. shipping)

Furusato Travel Scenes - Vol.6 'Nara and Asuka Area'

In volume 6, the Japan furusato travel stamps series brings us to historic Nara, once Japan's ancient capital and the seat of the imperial household. Nara's history goes back nearly 1,300 years and the area itself is home to many important scenic and historical sites.

The sheet also cover Asuka, the south-eastern part of Nara Basin. Asuka boasts numerous burial mounds and ruins of ancient buildings.

The Japanese hometown stamps on the right show the following furusato travel scenes and images:

  1. Double stamp: View of the Asuka Basin region
  2. Double stamp: Tachibana-dera Temple, in Asuka National Park
  3. Seki-jin-zou Male/Female stone fountain in front of Asuka Shiryoukan Historical Museum
  4. Ishi-butai-kofun, a stone burial mound
  5. Double stamp: Tanzan-jinsha Shinto Shrine in Nara
  6. Double stamp: Taburyou-engi-emaki painting

The left hand side of this Japan furusato stamp sheet depicts a map with Asuka in the north and the Nara sights in the south.

This Japan furusato stamps sheet was issued on August 21, 2009.

Offset 5 color print.

Price: US$ 15.70 (incl. shipping)

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