The Best Stationery in Japan and Where to Buy It
In Japan, stationery isn't just for kids. Many adults enjoy collecting and using high-quality, stylish, or cute stationery in daily life and at work. It's common to see professionals using sleek notebooks, colorful sticky notes, and highlighters in the office. This love for stationery is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, where even practical tools are crafted with care and creativity.
So let's take a look at some of the most popular brands of stationery and where to buy them, plus learn about some special stationery events taking place in the country.
Popular Stationery Brands
Here are some of the most popular stationery brands in Japan that you should consider buying if you visit a stationery shop.
・Midori
Midori is known for its high-quality notebooks and planners, in particular the MD Notebooks and Traveler's Notebooks. Midori's products have simple, yet functional designs, and are kept minimalist to allow people to customize them as they see fit. The paper quality is excellent and suitable for fountain pens.
・Pilot
Pilot is renowned for its fountain pens and ballpoint pens. The "Frixion" erasable pens and highlighters are especially popular, and these are available in a wide range of vibrant colors. Pilot is one of the most innovative stationery companies in Japan, always looking to integrate new technologies into their products to make them more comfortable and functional.
・Platinum Pen
Platinum is a long-established Japanese fountain pen manufacturer known for its classic fountain pen designs. These pens are characterized by high-quality materials and craftsmanship, so if you are looking for as smooth a writing experience as possible, consider this brand.
Popular Stationery Shops in Japan
There are many stores in Japan where you can buy stationery. Here are a few of them, plus some more budget-friendly options.
・LOFT
LOFT is a popular store with locations in cities all over Japan. It has a huge variety of household goods and a large stationery section. You can spend hours looking through all the pens, notebooks, and other stationery they sell. LOFT is also a great place to pick up postcards to send to family and friends, especially during the holiday season.
Click here to check out Loft's website.
・Itoya (G.Itoya)
Itoya is one of the oldest stationery stores in Japan, having been operating in Tokyo for over 100 years. The Tokyo location was reopened in June 2015 as G.Itoya. G.Itoya has become a very popular spot for foreign tourists visiting Ginza in Tokyo due to the range of quality products they sell. Itoya also has a store in Yokohama, and smaller Itoya stores can be found in some airports in Japan.
Click here to check out Itoya's website.
・DELFONICS (Smith)
DELFONICS sells largely original and select stationery products. They also operate the Store Smith, which sells not only stationery but also miscellaneous goods and can be found in cities across Japan.
Click here to check out their website.
・Sekaido
Sekaido is a specialty art store selling a huge range of affordable art supplies and stationery. The main store in Shinjuku is five floors and has just about anything you need if you love art or stationery. They also have stores in other parts of Tokyo and in cities throughout Japan, like Yokohama and Nagoya.
Click here to learn more.
・Convenience Stores
If you don't have time to make it out to a dedicated stationery store, why not check a nearby convenience store? They are everywhere and usually carry a small selection of stationery. They may even have limited edition goods that you can only find at that specific convenience store!
・Budget Stationery Options
Want to pick up some stationery supplies without breaking the bank? Japanese one-hundred-yen shops, like Daiso, Seria, and Can Do, stock an impressive selection of pens, notebooks, stickers, and more. These shops are especially popular among tourists hunting for affordable souvenirs that are practical and well-designed.
Bungu Joshi-haku Pop-ups in 2025
Large-scale events like Bungu Joshi-haku, a stationery fair originally aimed at adult women, have become increasingly popular nationwide, showing just how seriously Japan takes its stationery. Here is where these events will take place in 2025.
Nagoya: July 31-August 3, 2025
The Nagoya pop-up will be held at the Meitetsu Department Store's 7th-floor event hall, right next to Nagoya Station. The event runs across four timed sessions per day to prevent overcrowding:
・10:00-11:50
・12:40-14:30
・15:00-16:50
・17:20-19:10
(On the final day, only the first three sessions are held.)
Tickets cost ¥790 for July 31 and August 1, and ¥890 for August 2 and 3 (tax included, handling fees extra). Kids under 12 enter free with a ticketed adult. Tickets are sold in advance via e-plus.
This year's theme is "NeO Stationery City," offering a futuristic take on stationery. Expect over 39 brands, limited-edition masking tape, collectible pins, passport-style notebooks, and special gifts for purchases. Early booking is recommended as entry slots are limited.
Osaka (Umeda): September 10-15, 2025
The Umeda pop-up will take place at the Hanshin Umeda Main Store's 8th-floor event hall. Time slots are similar to Nagoya's:
・10:00-12:00
・13:00-15:00
・15:20-17:20
・17:40-19:40
(Only the first three sessions on the final day.)
Tickets are ¥790 from September 10-12 and ¥890 from September 13-15. Tickets go on sale July 5, 2025, via e-plus, and advance purchase is required.
Over 44 brands will participate, featuring seasonal and regional stationery that highlights both trusted makers and new creators.
Bungu Joshi-haku Online: Stationery Summer Festival 2025
Can't make it in person? The Stationery Summer Festival 2025 will run online from August 6 (12:00 PM) to August 18 (6:00 PM) JST. Nearly 100 exhibitors will offer curated sets, novelty bundles, and exclusive products, with many available for international shipping.
A preview of the online shop opens on August 1, and on August 5 at 7:00 PM JST, there'll be an Instagram livestream (Bungu Joshi-haku Live!) highlighting products.
No tickets are needed for the online event, though shipping fees apply. Orders ship from early September.
Happy Stationery Shopping!
Stationery from Japan makes for a great souvenir, either for yourself or for someone else. If you are living in Japan but haven't started delving into the world of Japanese stationery yet, now is as good a time as any. With such a wide array of products available, you are bound to find stationery in Japan that is not only practical to use but also fun.
