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Tokyo is a paradise for stationery lovers, filled with small boutiques offering elegant Japanese paper to towering stores stocked with antique pens and handmade notebooks.

A display wall featuring rows of Japanese pens on wooden shelves, each with a handwritten label above it. Letters K, L, M, and N mark the rows on the left side of the corkboard background—true to stationery stores Tokyo style.

Japanese stationery is one of the simple joys of visiting Tokyo. From a smooth ballpoint that makes everyday writing feel better to handmade leather notebooks and beautiful paper, there is something for every style and budget. Whether you want a special journal, a unique fountain pen, or washi tape for your planner, these Tokyo stationery stores are where I go to enjoy Japanese craftsmanship and design.

Below are my favorite spots around the city. You do not need to visit all of them on one trip, but picking two or three near where you are staying can make a very fun half-day.

Traveler’s Factory Nakameguro

A shelf displays several leather Traveler’s Notebooks in various styles and colors, each with distinct charms and packaging—just like those found in stationery stores Tokyo is known for. Additional notebooks and accessories are neatly arranged below.

Traveler’s Factory is the place I think of first when I want to record trips and memories. The main shop is tucked into a quiet back street in Nakameguro, a short walk from the station. Inside, it feels like a cozy workshop packed with travel themed goods.

The star is the Traveler’s Notebook, a simple leather cover that you can customize with different refills. There are plain, ruled, grid, watercolor, and kraft paper inserts, plus zipper pockets and card holders. Around the shop you will also find stamps, stickers, postcards, and travel books that fit the same slow travel mood.

Upstairs there is a small space that is sometimes used as a cafe or for events. I like to grab a drink, sit down, and start writing in my new notebook right away. The shop often limits the number of people inside, so you may need to wait a little, but the calm atmosphere is worth it.

Kakimori

A modern bookstore with large glass windows, wooden shelves filled with books, a bench, potted plants, and a yellow bicycle parked outside on a wet sidewalk—reminiscent of stationery stores Tokyo, known for Japanese pens and fine Japanese paper.

Out of all the shops on this list, Kakimori is my personal favorite. The store in Misuji, near Kuramae Station, feels bright and relaxed, with pens, inks, and paper laid out so you can try them slowly.

Every pen on display can be tested. There are ballpoints, rollerballs, and fountain pens at many price levels, from a few hundred yen to high end pieces. A highlight is their order-made notebooks. You choose the cover, paper type, and binding, and staff put it together for you in a few minutes.

I used to write a lot by hand during my architecture days, but later I switched to typing on screens. After visiting Kakimori, I felt like writing with pen and paper again.

Takeo Paper

A minimalist white room with wall-to-wall drawers labeled in Japanese; display tables in the foreground showcase organized colored pencils, pens, and art supplies—a scene reminiscent of stationery stores Tokyo is known for.

If you love paper itself, Takeo Paper in Kanda Nishikicho is a must. Takeo is one of Japan’s top fine paper companies, and this showroom lets you see and touch around seven thousand types of paper in different colors and textures.

On the main floor you can buy A4 sheets in a standard thickness to test at home. If you need larger sizes or different thicknesses, staff can help you place an order at the counter. Upstairs, a small gallery holds free paper themed exhibitions through the year, which is fun if you are interested in design or printing.

Ancora Ginza

A brightly lit store display features shelves of colorful ink bottles arranged in a rainbow gradient behind a white counter, with Japanese pens and sample inks on the counter—reminiscent of the finest stationery stores Tokyo has to offer.

Ancora in Ginza is a specialty shop focused on fountain pens and ink. As soon as you enter, you see the “My Fountain Pen Corner,” where you can build your own pen by choosing the nib, cap, and body from a wall of colorful parts. It is a fun way to create a one of a kind souvenir or gift.

The shop also has a large ink studio with over one hundred colors to test, along with beautiful glass pens and limited edition Sailor fountain pens. At the back there are small displays showing historical pens and older models, which feels like a tiny museum.

Kingdom Note Shinjuku

A well-lit, modern display case with multiple shelves showcases an extensive collection of Japanese pens in a sleek, white showroom with glossy marble floors.

Kingdom Note in Shinjuku looks a bit like a jewelry store at first, with white walls and glass cases. Inside, it is a fountain pen and ink paradise that carries both new and used pens.

I like browsing their second hand section, where you can sometimes find pens from famous brands at more accessible prices. Each used pen usually comes with a detailed condition note, so you know what you are buying. They also stock many special inks, including collaboration colors inspired by things like birds or sea creatures.

Ginza Itoya

A small wooden cart with a red canopy displays Japanese paper, postcards, and fans in a brightly lit indoor space. On either side are racks with patterned umbrellas and pens. A “toaty” sign evokes the charm of stationery stores Tokyo is known for.

Ginza Itoya is the classic stop for stationery lovers. The main building, G. Itoya, is easy to spot with its red paperclip sign on Ginza’s main street. Inside, floor after floor is filled with notebooks, pens, cards, planners, art supplies, office goods, and travel items.

Each floor has a theme, so I ride the elevator up, then walk down slowly and explore. There are areas where you can design your own notebook, try different pens, or choose paper for letters. Cafe Stylo near the top serves food made with vegetables grown in the building’s own small indoor farm, which is a fun detail if you have time for a break.

Behind G. Itoya is K. Itoya, the fountain pen and premium goods building marked with a giant black fountain pen. It has an even deeper selection of high-end writing instruments

Hands Shibuya

A colorful stationery store in Tokyo with neatly organized shelves of paper, notebooks, folders, and craft supplies. The walls are covered with bright, eye-catching signs in Japanese, featuring quality Japanese pens and beautiful Japanese paper.

Hands, formerly Tokyu Hands, is a large department store focused on DIY and creative living. The Shibuya store is my favorite branch for stationery. One section holds all the usual basics like pens, notebooks, and office supplies, while nearby aisles are full of craft kits, stamps, washi tape, and quirky items that make great gifts.

I like Hands when I want a mix of practical and fun. If I need something specific, I can almost always find it here, but I still end up discovering new products I did not know I wanted.

Loft Shibuya

People with umbrellas stand outside and enter a brightly lit Loft store—one of the top stationery stores Tokyo offers—on a rainy day in an urban area, with the store’s large white sign visible above the entrance.

Loft is another big lifestyle store chain, and the Shibuya branch is especially good for stationery. The basement and ground floors focus on pens, markers, planners, stickers, and desk items. Higher floors carry home goods, cosmetics, health items, and seasonal products.

Compared with Hands, Loft feels slightly more design focused and playful, with lots of colorful displays and character goods. There are also glass cases with higher end fountain pens, watches, and other accessories if you want something special.

Are Tokyo Stationary Stores Worth Visiting?

A white sandwich board reading Travelers notebook stands outside a small shop with glass doors. Nearby, two bicycles rest against a neighboring building—perfect for lovers of Japanese paper or those exploring unique stationery stores Tokyo offers.

If you enjoy writing, drawing, or even just nice office supplies, I think Tokyo’s stationery stores are absolutely worth adding to your trip. You can easily combine a visit to one or two shops with sightseeing in nearby neighborhoods like Ginza, Shinjuku, or Shibuya and go home with practical, beautiful souvenirs that you will actually use.

If you can’t make it to Tokyo, our friends at Komorebi Stationery offer a fantastic selection of Japanese Stationery goods online.

More to Explore in Tokyo

The creativity inspired by Tokyo’s stationery shops can be carried over into the city’s many artisanal cafes and quiet corners.

  • Tokyo Bookstores – Complement your new pens and paper with a visit to these bookstores, offering everything from rare vintage finds to the latest bestsellers.
  • Tokyo Best Coffee Shops – Find a quiet table at one of the city’s best coffee spots to test out your new stationery and organize your travel notes.
  • Tokyo Bakeries – Enjoy a break at these highly-rated bakeries, located near many of the city’s major shopping districts and hidden alleys.
  • Shinjuku Isetan Food Floor – Visit the “depachika” (basement food hall) of this iconic department store to find an incredible concentration of Tokyo’s most famous bakeries and pastry chefs in one location.

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