At The Journal Shop, we want to be your go-to stationery shop. We believe that you should feel passionate about the items you order from us.
As a leading UK stationery store, we are intentional about the products we bring to our customers. We carefully curate each item, keeping your unique needs and preferences in mind. We understand that a planner represents a personal sanctuary, a pen is a cherished collection piece, and sometimes, those brush pens are simply irresistible. Choosing and owning stationery should be a joyful experience, and we're here to help you make those decisions.
At The Journal Shop, your go-to stationery shop, we're committed to offering high-quality products that you'll treasure. We believe in good things, mindful purchasing, and cherishing what you own. In other words, Good Things, Always.
Japanese ink makers approach fountain pen ink the way Japanese craftsmen approach everything: with an obsessive attention to quality, consistency, and aesthetic beauty. The best Japanese inks don't just write well — they behave beautifully in the pen, produce colours of extraordinary depth and character, and have names that are, in themselves, a small act of poetry.
Here are the best Japanese fountain pen inks available in the UK right now, from everyday workhorses to bottles you'll open slowly and savour.
The most celebrated fountain pen ink range in the world. Pilot's Iroshizuku collection — "iroshizuku" translates roughly as "glistening drops of colour" — comprises 24 inks, each named after a Japanese landscape, natural phenomenon, or cultural image. Tsuki-yo (moonlit night) is a teal-green with extraordinary depth. Kon-peki (cerulean sky) is a vivid blue that makes every nib it touches look better. Yama-budo (wild grape) is a deep wine-red that sheens green.
Every Iroshizuku ink is well-behaved in the pen: it flows easily, dries without fuss, and cleans out without drama. They're not just beautiful — they're practical. This combination of everyday reliability and exceptional aesthetics is why Iroshizuku is the standard by which other inks are measured.
The 50ml bottles are beautifully designed and worth owning for their own sake.
Start with: Tsuki-yo (teal), Kon-peki (blue), or Yama-budo (wine-red) depending on your colour preference.
Sailor's Shikiori collection — "shikiori" means "four seasons weaving" — are seasonal inks that capture the colours of Japanese nature across the year. Spring sakura pinks, summer deep blues, autumn russet-reds, winter pale greys. They're inks that make you feel something when you look at the bottle name before you've even opened it.
Sailor inks are renowned for their exceptional quality and consistency. The Shikiori inks produce beautiful shading — the variation between light and dark on a single stroke — and several exhibit subtle sheening on high-quality paper like Tomoe River or MD Paper.
Start with: Yodaki (a deep autumn teal) or Ama-iro (a serene sky blue), depending on season.
The Kyo No Oto range captures the traditional colours of Kyoto — the old capital, where Japan's most refined aesthetics were developed over centuries. These are inks named for cultural concepts: Ruri-iro (lapis lazuli colour), Moegi-iro (fresh green), Sakuranezumi (cherry blossom grey). Each one is a story.
The inks themselves are beautifully saturated, shade well on quality paper, and feel appropriately considered — like something designed to be used slowly and deliberately.
Start with: Ruri-iro (a deep blue with purple undertones) or Moegi-iro (a fresh spring green).
If Shikiori is Sailor's poetry collection, Ink Studio is their laboratory. Over 100 colours, each numbered rather than named, ranging from straightforward blues and blacks to extraordinary sheening purple-golds and shimmering blue-greens. Ink Studio is for the collector who wants options — or for the writer who has found, through Iroshizuku and Shikiori, that they have a taste for ink hunting.
Many Ink Studio colours exhibit strong sheening and shading on Tomoe River paper. They are not everyday inks — they reward quality paper and intentional use.
Japanese inks are generally well-behaved and pen-safe. They clean out easily and don't stain pens. For best results, use them on quality paper — Tomoe River, MD Paper, or LIFE Noble — where their shading and sheening properties can shine. On cheaper papers, many of their most beautiful qualities simply don't appear.
If you're new to fountain pen ink and want to see what all the fuss is about, start with a bottle of Iroshizuku in a colour that appeals to you. Use it in whatever pen you have. Write on whatever paper you have. Then get a Hobonichi Techo or a sheet of fountain pen friendly paper and try it again. The difference will be immediately obvious.
Browse our full range of fountain pen inks and Japanese stationery at The Journal Shop — UK stock, free delivery over £35. See also our Japanese stationery brands guide.
What is the most popular Japanese fountain pen ink?
Pilot Iroshizuku is the most widely celebrated Japanese fountain pen ink range. Tsuki-yo (moonlit night teal) is consistently one of the most popular individual inks in the world.
Do Japanese inks work in any fountain pen?
Yes. Japanese fountain pen inks are generally well-behaved and work in any fountain pen. They're water-based, pen-safe, and clean out easily. Iroshizuku in particular is known for its excellent flow properties across all pen types.
What paper shows Japanese fountain pen inks best?
Tomoe River paper (used in Hobonichi notebooks) and MD Paper (used in Midori MD notebooks) show Japanese inks at their best — producing shading, sheening, and colour depth that faster-absorbing papers don't allow.
Are Sailor inks better than Pilot inks?
Both are exceptional and serve different purposes. Pilot Iroshizuku is more practical for everyday use — excellent flow, reliable dry times, easy to clean. Sailor inks (especially Ink Studio) tend to produce more dramatic shading and sheening effects but may be slightly less forgiving in some pens. Many fountain pen users keep both.
If you spend any time in fountain pen communities, you'll encounter Tomoe River paper constantly. People are devoted to it. They seek it out specifically. They buy notebooks precisely because they use it. What is it about one type of paper that inspires such loyalty?
This is the complete guide to Tomoe River paper — what it is, why fountain pen users love it, what its limitations are, and where to buy it in the UK.
Tomoe River (巴川製紙所, Tomoe River Paper Co.) is a specialist paper manufacturer based in Shizuoka, Japan. They produce an ultra-thin, ultra-smooth writing paper that has become the most celebrated fountain pen paper in the world.
The defining characteristic is its weight: 52gsm. This is extraordinarily light — roughly half the weight of standard 90gsm notebook paper. Yet despite this, it is remarkably durable and shows minimal bleed-through even with very wet fountain pen inks.
Two reasons: performance and experience.
Performance: Tomoe River absorbs ink slowly, which means ink sits on the surface longer before being absorbed. This produces exceptional colour saturation — inks look deeper, richer, more vivid than on faster-absorbing papers. It also allows ink to shade (show variation between thin and thick strokes), sheen (produce a metallic shimmer as light catches dried ink), and shimmer (show glitter particles in specialty inks) — properties that simply don't appear on thicker, faster-absorbing papers.
Experience: Writing on Tomoe River is unlike writing on any other paper. Fountain pen nibs glide across its surface with almost no resistance — what pen people call "feedback." It's smooth in a way that feels almost uncanny when you first experience it.
Tomoe River is not perfect for everyone. Its slow absorption means slow dry times — wet inks can smear if your hand drags across the page while writing. Left-handed writers often struggle with it for this reason. Broad, wet nibs also increase smear risk.
Ghosting — where ink shows faintly on the reverse of the page — can also appear with heavy inks, though full bleed-through is rare. The 2026 Hobonichi editions use updated Tomoe River paper that has improved on earlier ghosting issues.
Tomoe River paper is used in several products available in the UK:
Hobonichi Techo planners — all formats use Tomoe River paper. The most widely available Tomoe River product in the UK.
Yamamoto Paper notebooks — Yamamoto Paper is a specialist paper brand that produces several products using Tomoe River paper, including the RO-BIKI NOTE series. Available at The Journal Shop.
Loose Tomoe River sheets — available in packs of A4 and A5 sheets for those who want to try the paper before committing to a notebook. An excellent way to test it with your inks and pens.
The most common comparison. Midori MD Paper is thicker (70–80gsm), cream-toned, and absorbs ink faster. It produces excellent writing results with less smearing and ghosting — a more forgiving paper for everyday use. Tomoe River produces more dramatic ink effects but demands more patience.
For daily writing: MD Paper. For experiencing what your inks can really do: Tomoe River.
LIFE Noble paper sits between Tomoe River and standard notebook paper in weight and absorbency. It's exceptionally smooth, produces excellent ink saturation, and has faster dry times than Tomoe River. Many serious fountain pen users prefer it for everyday journaling precisely because it's less demanding. A worthy alternative if Tomoe River's dry times frustrate you.
If you use a fountain pen, yes — unambiguously yes. Even if you decide it's not your everyday paper, experiencing what your inks look like on Tomoe River at least once is worth it. You will see colours, shading, and sheening you didn't know your inks were capable of.
Start with a Hobonichi Techo or a pack of loose Tomoe River sheets. Write in it with the ink you use most. You'll understand immediately why people make such a fuss about it.
Browse our full Japanese stationery collection and our fountain pen friendly notebooks. For a full guide to Japanese stationery brands, see our complete brands overview.
Is Tomoe River paper good for ballpoint pens?
Adequate but not ideal. Tomoe River is optimised for fountain pens and fine liquid inks. Ballpoints and rollerballs work fine but won't show the shading and sheen effects the paper is known for. For ballpoint writing, MD Paper or LIFE Noble are better choices.
Why does Tomoe River paper take so long to dry?
Because it absorbs ink slowly — the property that produces its exceptional colour saturation and ink effects. The trade-off is dry time. Using a drier ink, a finer nib, or writing more slowly reduces smearing.
Has Tomoe River paper changed in recent years?
Yes. The original manufacturer updated their formula in recent years, and some products (including the 2026 Hobonichi) use a slightly revised version. The 2026 paper addresses ghosting concerns from earlier editions while maintaining the characteristic smoothness and ink performance.
Where can I buy Tomoe River paper in the UK?
The Journal Shop stocks Hobonichi Techo planners and Yamamoto Paper notebooks using Tomoe River paper, all held in UK stock with free delivery over £35.
They are the two most celebrated Japanese notebook systems in the world, and the question comes up constantly: Traveler's Notebook or Hobonichi? Both have cult followings. Both are made with exceptional care. Both will cost you more than a Moleskine and reward you in ways a Moleskine never could.
But they are fundamentally different objects that suit fundamentally different people. This guide will tell you which one is actually right for you.
For context: we were the first shop in the UK to stock the Midori Traveler's Notebook, and the first in Europe to stock Hobonichi. We've spent years watching how different people use both.
The Hobonichi Techo is a planner. It has a fixed structure — one day per page — and you use it by filling that structure. You adapt to the Techo.
The Traveler's Notebook is a system. It is a leather cover with an elastic band, and you fill it with whatever refill inserts you choose — blank, lined, grid, calendar, watercolour. The Traveler's Notebook adapts to you.
That single distinction will answer the question for most people.
Created by Midori in 2006 (now made under the Traveler's Company name), the Traveler's Notebook is one of the most copied concepts in stationery. A slim leather cover, aged by use, holds refill notebooks secured by elastic bands. You can carry one refill or four. You can mix a blank notebook with a calendar and a pocket insert. You configure it as your life changes.
The leather cover ages beautifully — brass fasteners patinate, leather develops character — and many users have had the same cover for a decade or more. The refills are inexpensive. The system evolves with you.
It comes in two sizes: Regular (roughly A5 wide) and Passport (smaller, fits in a shirt pocket).
The Traveler's Notebook suits you if:
The Hobonichi Techo is a Japanese planner printed on Tomoe River paper — thin, smooth, and extraordinarily fountain pen friendly. It has a fixed structure: one day per page. You use it every day, or you feel the blank pages accuse you.
It comes in several formats (Original A6, Cousin A5, Weeks, Avec), each with an interchangeable cover system that renews every year with new artist collaborations. The paper is the star: ink shades and sheens in ways that thicker papers don't allow.
The Hobonichi suits you if:
Traveler's Notebook refills use MD Paper — a cream-toned, 70–80gsm paper developed by Midori specifically for writing. It's smooth, fountain pen friendly, and more forgiving with dry times than Tomoe River. It's excellent paper for everyday use.
Hobonichi Techo uses Tomoe River paper at 52gsm — thinner, slower to absorb, producing exceptional ink saturation and shading. For serious fountain pen users who want to see their inks perform, Tomoe River is the better paper. For everyone else, MD Paper is arguably more practical.
A Traveler's Notebook cover costs around £50–65 and lasts indefinitely. Refills cost around £5–10 each. You build the cost over time as you buy refills, but the cover is a one-time purchase.
A Hobonichi Techo Original costs around £25–30 per year. Covers are optional but typically cost £25–80+. Unlike the Traveler's Notebook cover, you buy a new Techo body each year (though many users keep their cover for years).
Over time, costs are comparable — but the Traveler's Notebook spreads the investment differently.
Many people do. The most common combination: a Hobonichi Techo as a daily planner/journal, and a Traveler's Notebook as a more open-ended creative notebook or travel companion. They serve different enough purposes that they don't compete — they complement.
Start with the Hobonichi if you want a daily planner habit. Start with the Traveler's Notebook if you want a notebook system that adapts to your life. If you're still unsure, buy a pack of MD Paper refills and a Traveler's Notebook — the lower entry cost of starting with a Passport makes it an easier first step than committing to a full Techo year.
Browse our Hobonichi collection and Traveler's Notebook collection, or explore all our Japanese stationery. For a wider overview of both brands, see our Japanese stationery brands guide.
Is Traveler's Notebook good for fountain pens?
Yes. The standard refills use MD Paper, which is smooth, cream-toned, and performs well with fountain pens. Bleed-through is minimal with most inks and nib sizes.
Which is better for travel — Traveler's Notebook or Hobonichi?
The Traveler's Notebook, by design. The ability to add a pocket insert, a calendar, and a blank notebook in one cover makes it ideal for travel. The Passport size fits in a shirt pocket. The Hobonichi Weeks is also travel-friendly if you prefer a structured planner format.
Can I start a Hobonichi mid-year?
Yes — the Avec format splits the year into two half-year volumes, available separately. You can also start a full-year Techo at any point and simply begin on the current date.
Do Traveler's Notebook refills work with fountain pens?
Yes. MD Paper handles fountain pens well across most nib sizes. Very wet broad nibs may show light ghosting on the reverse, but bleed-through is rare.
We were the first shop in Europe to stock Hobonichi. We've been selling the Techo since before most UK stationery shops knew what it was. So when we say this is an honest review, we mean it — including the parts where it might not be right for you.
The Hobonichi Techo is one of the most talked-about planners in the world. It is also, for the wrong person, a £30 notebook that will sit unused on a shelf. Here is everything you need to know before you buy.
"Techo" simply means planner in Japanese. Hobonichi — the company behind it — is a media company founded by writer Shigesato Itoi, and the Techo began as an internal project that turned into a global phenomenon. It is published annually, with new editions launching in July for the following year.
The Techo's defining feature is its paper: Tomoe River, at 52gsm. It's so thin it's almost translucent, yet so well-engineered that fountain pen ink sits beautifully on the surface with minimal bleed-through. For fountain pen users, it's a revelation. Inks shade, sheen, and shimmer in ways that thicker papers simply don't allow.
The original, pocket-sized format. One day per page on the left, grid on the right. Small enough to carry everywhere — fits in a coat pocket, a handbag, a back pocket. The most popular format worldwide.
Best for: Daily journaling, keeping a planner with you at all times, people who write a moderate amount each day.
The A5 version: one day per page with significantly more writing space. The spread format gives you a full A5 page per day. For anyone who finds the Original too small for their handwriting or writing habits, the Cousin is the answer.
Best for: People who write a lot daily, those who use their planner as a journal, larger handwriting.
A slim weekly planner — half the thickness of the Original. One week per spread, with a notes column on the right. Less immersive than the daily formats but far more portable. The Weeks is popular with people who want to carry a planner without the bulk.
Best for: Appointment tracking, weekly planning, people who don't need a full page per day.
The Avec splits the Techo Original into two half-year books — one for January–June, one for July–December. Same paper, same format, half the thickness. A practical choice if you find the full-year book too bulky.
Best for: People who love the Original but want less bulk in their bag.
The Hobonichi without a cover is plain. With a cover, it becomes an object of desire. Hobonichi releases a new collection of covers each year — in collaboration with artists, illustrators, fabric makers, and designers — and they sell out quickly. Covers are interchangeable across formats (Original, Cousin, Weeks each have their own size), and many owners collect them across years.
You don't need a cover to use a Hobonichi. But most people end up with one eventually.
The Techo Original retails at around £25–30. That's a year of daily use — roughly 7–8p per day. On a per-day basis it's one of the most affordable premium stationery purchases you can make. The Cousin is slightly more.
The real cost is the covers, which range from around £25 to £80+. But the notebook itself is genuinely excellent value for what you get: Tomoe River paper, flat-lie binding, a clean minimalist layout, and a format that has been refined over 20+ years of annual publication.
Be honest with yourself. The Hobonichi is not the right planner if:
For ballpoint and gel pen users, the MD Paper notebooks or a Stalogy 365 Days may be a better fit.
For fountain pen users who journal daily or close to it, the Hobonichi Techo is one of the finest everyday planners ever made. The paper is exceptional, the format is thoughtful, and the cover ecosystem makes it genuinely personal. It is not for everyone — but for those it suits, it tends to become a fixture for life.
We've stocked Hobonichi longer than anyone else in Europe, and we still sell more of them than any other UK retailer. Browse our full Hobonichi collection — all UK-held stock, no customs delays. See also: all Japanese stationery and our Japanese stationery brands guide.
When does Hobonichi release new editions?
New Techo editions launch in July each year for the following year. They frequently sell out, particularly for popular cover designs. The Journal Shop stocks new editions as soon as they're available.
Is Hobonichi good for beginners?
Yes, with one caveat: the daily format requires you to decide how to use each page yourself. If you want more structure, start with the Weeks. If you're comfortable with a blank page, the Original or Cousin are excellent starting points.
Can I use a gel pen in a Hobonichi?
Yes. Fine-tipped gel pens (0.5mm and under) work well on Tomoe River paper. Heavier gel ink may show ghosting on the reverse of the page. For best results, use a fountain pen with a fine or medium nib.
Does The Journal Shop stock Hobonichi covers?
Yes — we stock a curated selection of Hobonichi covers. Stock is limited and sells out quickly, particularly for popular designs.
Not all paper is created equal. If you've ever watched a beautiful ink bleed through a cheap notebook, feather into illegibility, or soak straight through to the next page, you'll understand why fountain pen users become obsessive about paper. The right notebook changes everything.
We've been selling fountain pen friendly stationery since day one — and we stock more Japanese paper than almost anyone else in the UK. Here is our honest guide to the best notebooks for fountain pen users, based on years of handling, testing, and selling them.
For a broader overview of the Japanese brands behind the best papers, see our Japanese stationery brands guide.
Three things matter: ink absorption, bleed-through resistance, and surface smoothness. Fountain pen ink is water-based and sits on the paper surface before being absorbed — too fast and you get feathering (ink spreading along fibres); too slow and smearing becomes a problem. The best papers absorb at the ideal rate, leaving crisp, saturated lines with no ghosting on the reverse.
Japanese paper manufacturers have spent decades engineering paper specifically for this behaviour. The results speak for themselves.
The Hobonichi Techo is printed on Tomoe River paper, and it remains one of the most remarkable writing experiences available at any price. At 52gsm it's extraordinarily thin — you can almost see through it — yet ink sits on the surface beautifully, with minimal bleed-through and exceptional colour saturation. Inks shade, sheen, and shimmer on Tomoe River in ways they simply don't on thicker, faster-absorbing papers.
The trade-off is dry time: Tomoe River is slow to absorb, which means smearing if you're left-handed or write quickly. But for right-handed writers who want to see what their inks can really do, there is nothing better.
Best for: Fountain pen enthusiasts who want to experience inks at their best. Planners and daily journalers.
MD Paper was developed by Midori after years of research into what makes the ideal writing surface. It sits at around 70–80gsm — considerably thicker than Tomoe River — and absorbs ink slightly faster, which means better dry times with less smearing. The surface is cream-toned, smooth, and exceptionally consistent.
MD Paper notebooks lie completely flat thanks to thread-stitch binding, which makes them a genuine pleasure for long writing sessions. They're the notebook we use in the TJS office.
Best for: Daily writers, journalers, anyone who wants a premium writing experience with slightly faster dry times than Tomoe River.
LIFE has been making notebooks in Tokyo since 1949, and the Noble range uses their finest paper: an exceptionally smooth, cream-toned surface that fountain pen users consistently rank among the best in the world. It's slightly more absorbent than Tomoe River, which means virtually no smearing, while still producing excellent ink saturation and shading.
The Noble notebooks feel like proper artefacts — cloth-covered, sewn-bound, built with a craft that's increasingly rare. If you want a fountain pen notebook that will last and impress, the Noble is it.
Best for: Writers, letter writers, anyone who values craftsmanship as much as paper quality.
Tsubame notebooks have been made in Tokyo since 1950 and are the everyday notebook of choice for Japanese students, architects, and writers. The paper is cream-toned, smooth, and optimised for ink flow — it performs brilliantly with fountain pens while being robust enough for daily use.
They're inexpensive, unpretentious, and wonderful. The kind of notebook that gets filled rather than saved for a special occasion. If you want a reliable daily fountain pen notebook without the premium price tag of Hobonichi or LIFE, Tsubame is your answer.
Best for: Everyday writers. People who go through notebooks quickly and don't want to pay premium prices for every one.
Stalogy's paper punches well above its weight. At 80gsm with a subtle grid, it's smooth, fountain pen friendly, and produces excellent ink saturation with minimal bleed-through. The 365 Days format — a perpetual undated diary you start whenever you like — is brilliantly practical. The binding lies completely flat.
For fountain pen users on a budget who want Japanese paper quality, Stalogy offers the best value in the market.
Best for: Bullet journalers, minimalists, fountain pen users on a budget.
Avoid cheap woodpulp papers with high acid content — they feather badly, bleed through, and yellow quickly. Moleskine paper, despite its premium positioning, performs poorly with fountain pens. Leuchtturm1917 is better but still shows ghosting on heavier inks. For fountain pens specifically, Japanese paper is simply in a different class.
If you're new to fountain pen friendly paper, start with a Tsubame notebook or a Stalogy 365 Days — both are affordable and will immediately show you what good paper feels like. If you want the full fountain pen paper experience, go straight to a Hobonichi Techo or MD Paper notebook.
Browse our full range of fountain pen friendly notebooks and Japanese stationery at The Journal Shop — all held in UK stock, free delivery over £35.
What is the best paper for fountain pens?
For maximum ink shading and sheen, Tomoe River paper (used in Hobonichi notebooks) is unmatched. For a balance of performance and practicality, MD Paper and LIFE Noble are excellent. For everyday use on a budget, Tsubame and Stalogy are hard to beat.
Does Hobonichi paper bleed with fountain pens?
Very rarely with standard fountain pen inks. Tomoe River is slow-absorbing, which means ink sits on the surface and can smear before drying, but bleed-through is minimal even with wet, broad nibs. The 2026 Hobonichi uses updated Tomoe River paper that addresses earlier ghosting concerns.
Is Leuchtturm good for fountain pens?
It's acceptable, but Japanese paper consistently outperforms it. Leuchtturm shows more ghosting and feathering with wetter inks. If you're a serious fountain pen user, the upgrade to MD Paper, LIFE Noble, or Tomoe River is worthwhile.
Can I use a fountain pen in a Stalogy notebook?
Yes — Stalogy paper performs well with fountain pens. You'll get good ink saturation and minimal bleed-through, especially with medium and fine nibs.
When it comes to pencils, not all graphite is created equal. The kind of work you're planning to do — whether it's precise technical drawing or free-flowing journalling — can be hugely influenced by the grade of graphite you choose. Blackwing pencils are renowned for offering four distinct graphite grades, each engineered for a different kind of creative work. In this guide, we'll walk you through every core Blackwing pencil, what makes each one unique, and how to choose the right one for you. And if you're looking for something a little more special, we'll cover the Blackwing Volumes limited edition range too.
