Every year, on New Year's Day, the seven gods of fortune or Shichi Fukujin (七福神) visit Earth and bring luck, wealth and longevity; to make sure that they will get on their good side, Japanese make rounds of seven (and often more) temples/shrines dedicated to one god each and collect stamps in special cards also available by the temples/shrines. Here's a poster advertising one such New Year "pilgrimage" to nine temples/shrines in Asakusa.
And here's the card with the stamps from the time I did it. For the record, the gods are Ebisu (恵比寿), Daikokuten (大黒天), Bishamonten (毘沙門天), Ben(zai)ten (弁(才)天), Jurojin (寿老人), Hotei (布袋) and Fukurokuju (福禄寿).
(For a bigger version of these pictures both in color and black and white, check my "Japan Arekore" set on Flickr).
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