
The Complete Guide to Stationery in Japan
Japan has a plethora of smart pieces of stationery. Here are recommendations to take home with you as a souvenir. They are practical and have a sophisticated design. They'll certainly satisfy your demand and enrich your daily life!
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This article is split up into various categories for buying stationery in Japan:
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A. Write
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B. Cut & Paste
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C. Erase
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D. Note
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E. Arrange
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[Bonus] Where can we buy these stationery goods?
Please use these categories as a reference in order to shop more efficiently for stationery in Japan!
A. Write
1. Pencils
8900 (Tombow)
Since first released in 1945, the pencil 8900 has been representative of all pencils in Japan. You can smoothly write or draw with it. The density ranges from 2H (the lightest) to 2B (the heaviest), so you can select pitch-black pencils or light black ones according to your favor or purpose.
Price: 520 yen (by the dozen)
HP: tombowusa.com/8900-drawing-pencils-hb.html
2. Self-custom-made pens
STYLE-FIT (uni MITSUBISHI PENCIL)
Here is a customizable multicolored pen! The bodies and the refills are sold separately. Some of the bodies are, as showed above, cutely decorated. The is a wide variety of colors for you to pick from. So, why not pick up your favorite body and refills, to make a pen just for you?
Prices: 250 yen (body), 70 yen (refill)
HP: mpuni.co.jp/products/ballpoint_pens/gel/style_fit/holder.html (Japanese only)
3. Mechanical Pencil
KURU TOGA (uni MITSUBISHI PENCIL)
Price: 430 yen
HP: uniball-na.com/products (select "PENCIL" at the left side of the website)
PLATINUM
Price: From 300 yen to 1500 yen
HP: platinum-pen.co.jp/products/drafting/edraft1.html
4. Highlighter
Beetle Tip dual color (KOKUYO)
This highlighter has a unique pen point which is divided in two, like a beetle's horn. Each side has a different color. You just turn the highlighter to change the color of your highlighter.
Price: 150 yen
HP: kokuyo-st.co.jp/stationery/beetletip/dualcolor/ (Japanese only)
PROPUS WINDOW (uni MITSUBISHI PENCIL)
Price: 80 yen
HP: mpuni.co.jp/products/felt_tip_pens/marker/propus/window.html (Japanese only)
FRIXION light (PILOT)
Price: 100 yen
HP: pilotpen.us/categories/highlighters/frixion-light/
B. Cut & Paste
5. Scissors
SWINGCUT (Raymei Fujii)
Price: 750 yen
HP:raymay.co.jp/homestationery/contents/swingcut/movie.html (Japanese only)
STICKYLE SCISSORS (sun-star)
Price: 500-600 yen
HP: sun-star-st.jp/private_brand/stickyle_scissors.html (Japanese only)
6. Tape paste
DOTLINER (KOKUYO)
Price: 300-500 yen
HP: kokuyo-st.co.jp/stationery/dotliner/ (Japanese only)
C. Erase
7. Eraser
MONO (Tombow)
Price: 100 yen
HP: www.tombow.com/brand/mono/ (Japanese only)
Kasokeshi (Kokuyo)
Price: 150 yen
HP: kokuyo-st.co.jp/stationery/kadokeshi/ (Japanese only)
8. Correction Tape
Whiper flex (PLUS)
This correction tape has a flexible head and a unique shape. It is designed to reflect the movement of the hand effectively. The tape width ranges from 4mm to 6mm. This product also achieved the Good Design Award in 2008.
Price: 300 yen
HP: bungu.plus.co.jp/product/correct/whiper/flex.html (Japanese only)
Mono 2 way (Tombow)
This product is categorized as 'erasers' too because a correction tape is equipped at the top end and an eraser is set at the tail end. It is, as its name shows, actually two-way.
Price: 240 yen
HP: tombow.com/products/mono_2way/
D. Note
9. Sticky Notes
Fusen-100 (Bunkyosha)
This is an enjoyable item rather than a useful one. 100 different kinds of illustrations are printed on every sticky note. You can use it to deliver messages to other people with these cute illustrations. The Japanese sentence in the picture means, "why don't we go and have lunch together?"
Price: 250 yen
HP: fusen100.com/ (Japanese only)
10. Notebooks
Campus (KOKUYO)
Price: 200 yen
HP: kokuyo-st.co.jp/stationery/campus/ (Japanese only)
Premium C.D. NOTEBOOK (APICA)
Price: 1200 yen
HP: apica.co.jp/cd_notebook/ (Japanese only)
E. Arrange
11. Folders
NOViTA (KOKUYO)
Price: 300 yen
HP: kokuyo-st.co.jp (Japanese only)
12. Pencil Case
Neo Critz (KOKUYO)
Price: 900 yen
HP: kokuyo-st.co.jp/stationery/neo-critz/ (Japanese only)
[Bonus] Where can we buy these stationery goods?
Here are some recommendations of stores where you can get the products. Hope you enjoy your shopping!
Caution: Not all of the products above are always found in these shops.
LoFt
Shop List: loft.co.jp
HP: loft.co.jp (Japanese only)
Tokyu Hands
Tokyu Hands is a very interesting place to shop around. It deals with a wide range of goods, such as bicycles, DIY tools and, of course, stationery. As the shops of Tokyu Hands are also situated near famous places, it's easy to access them.
Shop List: tokyu-hands.co.jp
Ito-ya
Ito-ya is well-known as a smart stationery store. The Ginza branch (pictured above) is especially famous and worth paying a visit to.
Shop List: ito-ya.co.jp (Japanese only)
HP: ito-ya.co.jp (Japanese only)
Also Check: 12 Fascinating Points about the Famous Stationery Store in Japan: Ginza Itoya
Mujirushi-ryohin
Mujirushi-ryohin is famous for its original simple-designed goods. The shop not only deals stationery, but also commodities, clothing, bedding and some snacks.
Shop List: muji.net (Japanese only)
HP: muji.com (Japanese only)
Sekaido
Shop List: sekaido.co.jp (Japanese only)
HP: sekaido.co.jp (Japanese only)
Shimojima
Shimojima was originally founded as a wrapping goods shop. It now provides not only wrapping goods, but also decoration merchandise and stationery.
HP: https://www.shimojima.co.jp/eng/
[Must-buy in Japan]
15 Must-buy Souvenirs From Japan
50 Medicines and Beauty Products from Drug Stores in Japan Picked by Japanese Pharmacists
10 Must-buy Traditional Japanese Accessories For Souvenirs
The Complete Guide to Japanese Souvenirs: 30 Must-Buy Souvenirs from Japan [2016 edition]
[Must-buy in Tokyo]
20 Souvenirs You Should Buy in Tokyo
30 Must-Buy Souvenirs at Narita Airport
CouCou: adorable 300 yen shop in Tokyo
10 Trendy Shops in Harajuku to Go for Souvenirs
Try out lolita fashion in popular Harajuku salon ‘Maison de Julietta’
If you want to know more about souvenirs from Japan, also check these articles:
[Must-buy in Kansai]
24 Must-buy Souvenirs at Kansai Airport
[Must-buy in Osaka]
10 food souvenirs you can only buy in Osaka
20 Must-Buy Souvenirs from Osaka
20 Souvenirs to Buy in Osaka and Umeda Stations Chosen by Residents
11 Bento You Should buy at Shin-Osaka Station
[Must-buy in Kyoto]
30 Must-Buy Food Souvenirs from Kyoto
20 Kyoto souvenirs you should definitely buy
[Must-buy in Hokkaido]
11 Sweet Souvenirs To Buy In Hokkaido
21 Must-Buy Souvenirs from New Chitose Airport
[Beauty and Cosmetics]
20 Beauty Products You Can Buy at Drugstores At Japan
11 Affordable Skincare Products to Buy in Japan
11 High-end Skincare Products to Buy in Japan
15 Must-Buy Japanese Cosmetic Brands
10 Japanese beauty appliances that can be used worldwide
20 Japanese Beauty Electronics You Should Check Out
[Fashion]
11 Recommended Japanese Lingerie Brands to Buy in Japan
12 Japanese Lingerie Brands You Need To Check Out
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.