8 best stationery stores in Tokyo

This stationery shop houses everyday goods inspired by travel. Set in the building of a former paper processing factory, Traveler's Factory offers stationery, books and customisable products, including the best-selling Traveler's Notebook, which encourages the user to plan ahead and start something new. The space upstairs is used to host special events and workshops and also doubles as a café where you can sip on coffee while filling out your notebook. Traveler's Factory is also known for its fun collection of stamps for personalising your journals – they are free to use after purchasing your notebook.

The ultimate destination for paper sniffers, Papier Labo is filled with all sorts of stationery from letterpress to card sets and other paper-related items. Papier Labo also provides servies such as custom business cards, rubber stamps and other print-worthy goodness. Many of these items make great gifts, such as the cool card stands, modern memo clips, playing cards, sleek pen cases and more. After a shopping spree at this fun stationery shop, you'll have the most stylish office around. 

If you just can’t get enough of stationery, this store is your happy place. Ginza Itoya sells everything from regular stationery and Japanese calligraphy goods to fancy fountain pens, designer paper, art tools, and more. The first eight floors are reserved for shopping and are divided by function (think 'home', 'desk', etc), while the higher floors host a business lounge and an urban vegetable farm with salad leaves grown in hydroponic bins (the greens are then used in the dishes served in the café on the 12th floor). You can also get your mail sorted on the second floor: purchase your cards and letters, write and decorate them at a designated space, and then send them off at the in-store postal area. 

An import stationer in Kichijoji, Giovanni feels like a museum of treasures for those excited by trinkets like 'aristocratic' seals with wax, replicas of medieval astronomy paraphernalia or novelty goods from the Medicis' collection. The shop owner boasts an extensive collection of traditional European stationery – think feather pens, parchment paper and extremely official-looking seals – some of which are only available here in Tokyo. You can also order a custom seal stamp here at the store.

You might find yourself falling in love with the art of writing again after a visit to this specialist stationery shop. Kakimori’s range of pens, inks and letter sets are chosen on the basis of how comfortable they are to use, and customers are welcome to try out the fountain pens in store. Best of all are the made-to-order notebooks, prepared in about ten minutes, with an infinitely customisable selection of covers, paper and bindings available.

Japanese paper and incense specialist Kyukyodo opened its first shop in Kyoto back in 1663 and supplied products to the Imperial Palace during the Edo period. Till today, the shop is still run by the Kumagai family that founded it. The Ginza main store is known for its distinctive arched brick entrance and sells incense alongside a selection of seasonal gift cards and lots of small, moderately priced items such as gift boxes, notebooks and bookmarks made from colourful washi. The interior and setup may be decidedly old-fashioned, but don't be deterred by that: you're very likely to walk out with a high quality Japanese souvenir. 

Visiting Pigment Tokyo is like falling into a rainbow. True to its name, this unique store sells colour – more than 4,500 pigments in powder form – which are organised into neat, dazzling arrangements within the stunning Kengo Kuma-designed store. Aside from raw pigments, you can shop for 200 sumi (Japanese ink) sticks, as well as calligraphy and paint brushes. The staff are well-versed in the intricacies of the products, and are happy to show you how to use them. For those keen to learn more about materials and techniques, check the website for workshop schedules.

If you’re looking for some exquisite Japanese stationery, this long-established outlet in Nihonbashi should be your first port of call. Haibara counts more than 200 years in business and knows how to turn traditional washi paper into beautiful letter sets, uchiwa (round-shaped fans), notebooks and much more.

The elegant design of their products can be traced back to the late Edo (between 1806-1868) and Meiji (1868-1912) periods, when Haibara’s previous owners collaborated with the most famous painters of that time. Ask for their best-known item, the gampi paper, which has been in high demand since the shop first opened. This artisanal paper is made from the outer bark fibres of gampi trees, which gives it a silk-like surface and smooth texture.