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It’s hard to say how I got here, beguiled by ruled paper and pencil shavings. I suppose it began with my love for school, which I associate with sparkly pencil cases and those folders with cuddly kittens that stopped being produced sometime in the ‘90s. As I got older, shopping for a new planner became an activity worth devoting hours to, and to this day, the sensation of a smooth pen gliding on a fresh new page pleases me to no end.
We all aestheticize things we need to some degree—clothing, furniture, food. For me it’s about the desk object. I can’t remember the last time I needed a rubber Milan eraser (made in Spain), or a Coccoina glue stick that smells like almonds (made in Italy), but that’s besides the point. I will go far and wide to seek the very best in office supplies, because there’s something really special about finding the foreign in the everyday (those who revel in international grocery shopping would agree).
There are certain so-called stationery cities—Florence, Berlin, Barcelona, to name a few. It was in London that I became obsessed with vintage wares, found at one-of-a-kind stores like Present & Correct and Choosing Keeping. But everyone who spells stationery correctly with an “e” knows the mecca is Tokyo. Like every other traveler who took advantage of the weakening Yen, I booked a trip to Japan’s capital last year with the intent of shopping the stationery stores I had only heard whisperings of throughout my many years of collecting.
A little bit of research on the internet led me to Ito-ya—if you can believe it, a stationery store consisting of 12 floors that’s been around for over 100 years—in Tokyo’s Ginza district. I was traveling with my brother on this trip, and once we made our way past Itoya’s glass doors, I respectfully told him to get lost. I needed at least four hours to roam the floors, unbothered and not rushed—and even that wasn’t enough.
You think you have some understanding of what stationery can be, and then you go to Japan. I’m talking walls of stickers featuring the most esoteric imagery, from gold-trimmed sea slugs to symbols of ancient Egypt; shelves upon shelves of fancy correspondence papers for those letters you’ll almost certainly start writing to your friends; the tactile delights that are distinctly Japanese, from origami kits and furoshiki wrapping cloth to washi tapes and calligraphy tools.
To put it simply, there’s no one who understands the intersection of whimsy and utility quite like the Japanese. I continued my stationery journey throughout Tokyo, stopping at other spots like Loft, a department-style store that leans more into lifestyle, as well as a few smaller shops, like Kakimori, where you can create your own original notebook on the spot, with a choice of cover, paper, rings, and fasteners. Pro tip: Make sure you carry your passport with you, as many of these shops offer tax-free transactions for international visitors.
I felt as though I got to know the city through this small channel, down to the artful way employees handed me my change and a paper receipt with a graceful bow. I returned home with bags of stickers for all my friends and made peace with the fact that I had only just scratched the surface of Japan’s stationery landscape. Thankfully, you can find Japan’s most popular planners and pens, no matter where you are in the world. Here are a few of my favorites.
Japanese stationery you can shop now:
Hobonichi
Techo 2026 original book
Launched in 2002, the Hobonichi Techo is the planner of all planners. Its one-page-per-day format appeals to those who like to meld rigor and creativity, whether that means writing a to-do list or journaling daily thoughts.
Penco
Plastic clip
Penco started in 1999 with a single ballpoint pen inspired by a US model, and since then, has been selling vintage-style office supplies. You’ll see that Americana design on these clips, which are perfect for binding together papers and chip bags alike.
Pilot
Kakuno Madoromi fountain pen
The Pilot Kakuno is an affordable entry point (no pun intended) for those who’d like to get into fountain pens without breaking the bank. The fine nib is precise without being scratchy.
Yamahachi
American Shorthair real photo stamp
I can’t begin to describe how life-like these stamps are, and how much joy they bring me whenever I have an excuse to use them. There are a variety of animals available—no ink pad necessary.
Life
Vermillion B6 notebook
Life makes fantastic notebooks with smooth paper that resists bleeding, whether you’re using a fountain pen or pencil.
Hightide
New Retro masking tape
For me, the quirkier the washi tape, the better. Hightide makes some of the best in the game, as evidenced by this charming, retro pig design.
Ichikudo
Tokyo Tsukiji Onigiri calendar
There are regular calendars, and then there are those shaped like Japanese rice balls. Each month gets a different fish filling, perfect for displaying on your office desk.
Delfonics
Quitterie pencil case
This chic pencil case, made with waterproof PVC that’s reminiscent of scotch-grain leather, will be sure to keep your precious writing utensils protected.
Present & Correct
Vintage Japanese erasers
It doesn’t matter whether or not you need an eraser—it’s all about the vintage packaging. And if you’re daring, the Cola Stick actually smells like Cola.
Mitsubishi
1 dozen recycled pencils
For the sketchers out there, these HB Mitsubishi 9852 pencils are made of recycled wood and a high quality graphite core, allowing your marks to be as graceful as can be.





