— Best Places for Overseas Buyers & Travelers to Shop in Japan —**
Japan is renowned as one of the world’s greatest stationery destinations.
From beautifully designed notebooks to functional office tools and high-quality writing instruments, Japanese stationery is praised by both international buyers and casual travelers.
This guide introduces the best stationery shops in Japan, organized by store type, with tips for:
- Overseas buyers sourcing products
- Retailers researching trends
- Travelers looking for souvenirs
- Anyone searching for Japanese-style gifts
Whether you’re shopping for business or just love Japanese stationery, this guide will help you find the perfect places to visit.
1. Four Types of Stationery Shops in Japan
To make browsing easier, Japanese stationery stores can be divided into four main categories:
① Large General Stores (easy to access & well-rounded selection)
LOFT / HANDS / TSUTAYA / MUJI / 100 yen shops
② Design & Lifestyle Stationery Stores (stylish & great for gifts)
HIGHTIDE STORE / Smith / TRAVELER’S FACTORY / Kakimori / Paper Tree
③ Premium & Specialty Stores (for pen lovers & creators)
ITOYA / Maruzen / Sekaido / TOOLS / Kyukyodo
④ Packaging & Supplies (useful for gift wrapping)
Shimojima / Package Plaza
- ① Large General Stores (easy to access & well-rounded selection)
- ② Design & Lifestyle Stationery Stores (stylish & great for gifts)
- ③ Premium & Specialty Stores (for pen lovers & creators)
- ④ Packaging & Supplies (useful for gift wrapping)
- 2. Large General Stores: Perfect for First-Time Shoppers
- Design & Lifestyle Stores
- Premium & Specialist Stores
- Packaging & Supplies
- Recommended Stores by Purpose
- Easy Stationery Stops for Travelers
- Summary
2. Large General Stores: Perfect for First-Time Shoppers
■ LOFT（ロフト）
One of Japan’s most popular stationery destinations.
Great for notebooks, stickers, planners, limited editions, and character goods.
Best for travelers: cute gifts, seasonal stationery
Best for buyers: trend-driven items & fast-moving SKUs
HP：https://www.loft.co.jp/
■ HANDS（ハンズ）
Known for functional, long-lasting Japanese stationery such as scissors, pens, and planners.
Best for travelers: high-quality pens & tools
Best for buyers: durable bestsellers & practical items
HP：https://hands.net/
■ TSUTAYA（Tsutaya Books）
A stylish lifestyle bookstore offering premium notebooks, quality pens, and art-inspired stationery.
Daikanyama Tsutaya is a must-visit spot for design lovers.
Best for travelers: elegant gift stationery
Best for buyers: design-led premium items
■ MUJI
Minimalist Japanese design at reasonable prices.
Their pens, notebooks, and planners are globally popular.
Best for travelers: simple gifts everyone will love
Best for buyers: globally recognized + easy to resell
■ 100 Yen Shops (DAISO / Seria / Can★Do)
Affordable yet surprisingly high-quality stationery.
Best for travelers: small souvenirs, washi tape, cute notebooks
Best for buyers: bulk sourcing for e-commerce bundles
Design & Lifestyle Stores
— Perfect for Stylish Stationery & Unique Gifts**
■ HIGHTIDE STORE（ハイタイド）
Known for retro-inspired stationery and the popular Penco collection.
Strong overseas appeal due to its colorful and unique designs.
Great for: creative gifts, trendy items, boutique-style sourcing
■ Smith（スミス / DELFONICS）
Home of the famous Rollbahn notebook.
Offers a modern selection of planners, pouches, and desk accessories.
Great for: stylish office gifts, curated store selections
■ TRAVELER’S FACTORY（トラベラーズファクトリー）
A must-visit for TRAVELER’S notebook fans.
Locations in Nakameguro, Tokyo Station, and Narita Airport.
Great for: leather journals, travel-themed gifts, collector items
■ Kakimori（カキモリ）
A unique store where you can create your own custom notebook and explore artisanal inks.
Great for travelers: memorable hands-on experience
Great for buyers: premium handcrafted items
■ Paper Tree
Specialty shop for letter sets, envelopes, and beautiful paper goods.
Great for: Japanese-style paper gifts
Premium & Specialist Stores
■ITOYA (Ginza)
Often called the “Mecca of Japanese stationery.”
Offers luxury pens, premium notebooks, and high-end gift items.
Best for: business gifts, collectible writing instruments
■ Maruzen
Famous for its wide range of fountain pens and inks.
Great for: writing enthusiasts & premium gift buyers
■ 世界堂（Sekaido）
Japan’s largest art supply store, popular with designers and illustrators.
Great for travelers: sketchbooks & markers
Great for buyers: creative supplies & professional tools
■ TOOLS
Focused on design materials—Copic markers, sketch pads, and illustration tools.
Great for: creative market research & artist gifts
■ Kyukyodo
A historic store offering traditional Japanese paper, incense, and calligraphy goods.
Great for: cultural gifts, washi stationery
Packaging & Supplies
■ Shimojima（シモジマ）
A top destination for bags, boxes, stickers, wrapping paper, and packaging supplies—all in bulk.
Best for: EC sellers, gift preparation, packaging materials
Package Plaza
A convenient chain offering practical gift bags and packing tools.
Recommended Stores by Purpose
| Purpose | Stores |
|---|---|
| Trend research | LOFT / HANDS |
| Boutique-style gift sourcing | HIGHTIDE / Smith |
| High-end gift buying | ITOYA / Maruzen |
| Art supplies | Sekaido / TOOLS |
| Budget souvenirs | 100 yen shops |
| Japanese cultural gifts | Kyukyodo / Paper Tree |
| Packaging for EC | Shimojima |
Easy Stationery Stops for Travelers
Tokyo:
Ginza (ITOYA) / Shibuya (LOFT, HANDS) / Nakameguro (TF) / Kuramae (Kakimori) / Asakusabashi (Shimojima)
Osaka:
Umeda (LOFT / Smith)
Fukuoka:
Yakuin (HIGHTIDE STORE)
This makes it easy to add a stationery stop while sightseeing.
Summary
Japan is one of the best places in the world to buy stationery—whether you’re:
- an overseas buyer looking for new products,
- a store owner doing market research,
- a traveler searching for souvenirs, or
- someone wanting thoughtful, Japan-made gifts.
With this guide, you can explore the most reliable and enjoyable stationery shops Japan has to offer
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