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You might have heard that the historic university enclave of Jimbocho was crowned the coolest neighbourhood in the world last year by Time Out Worldwide. Famous for its endless bookstores and cult curry spots, the area also happens to be home to some of Tokyo’s best stationery stores.
And who better to guide us through them than the team at Jimbocho-based Hobonichi, known for products such as the bilingual Hobonichi Techo planners? With Hobonichi’s Asako Ogawa, Nami Annen and Naomi Yoshida leading the way, follow us on a dive into three of Jimbocho’s most interesting writing material dealers.
The first stop on our visit is at Takeo Paper Trading, a sleek paper shop that’s also on our list of the best things to do in the neighbourhood. This incredible showroom stocks a whopping 2,700 varieties of paper, ranging from decorative sheets for artworks to sturdy stock for printing.
Alongside affordable A4-size sheets of paper, you’ll find a selection of playful paper-centric items including colourful mini memo blocks made from Takeo paper, ultra-thin 'onion skin' notebooks that live up to their name, and Pépet, a charming paper ‘pet’ whose distinctive texture and movement make it surprising – and fun – to play with.
Next on our stationery tour is Bumpodo, a store which has been around since 1887. Its iconic retro architecture alone makes it worth a visit, but step inside and you’ll find three floors of stationery and art supplies – a paradise where you can stock up on everything from oil paints and pencils to washi tape and greeting cards. The shop also features a gallery and café up on the fourth floor where you can enjoy artworks and sweet treats.
Among the standout items introduced by the Hobonichi team were their personal favourites: the Dual Metallic Pentel gel pens, which show up beautifully on both black and white paper.
We were also shown watercolour paints that glow under black light, alongside compact watercolour palettes designed to be easily carried and used day to day.
Last but not least, we made a stop by Tobichi Tokyo, Hobonichi’s very own store. It’s one of the best places in the city to browse Hobonichi Techo notebooks, with an extensive range of sizes and colours available in both English and Japanese editions.
You can also customise your journal with the playful accessories on hand, from colourful covers and cases to pen holders, stickers and more.
Beyond just stationery, the brand produces a wide range of lifestyle items, from soft towels and patterned haramaki belly warmers to food products. You can check these out yourself at Tobichi.
There’s even a section dedicated to merch inspired by Mother, the popular video game created by copywriter and Hobonichi founder Shigesato Itoi.
For more with Hobonichi and Time Out Tokyo, visit the website.
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