Considered one of the best Japanese notebook brands, Muji is renowned for its simple, low-cost, yet good-quality products. In fact, Muji is the abbreviation for Mujirushi Ryohin, meaning good products without brands. Particularly, material selection, the inspection process, and packaging simplification are the three aspects they keep reexamining before delivering to consumers, hence winning great appreciation from the entire world.

Although Muji notebooks have a limited color range (mostly beige) and minimal packaging, the local cultural approach of the brand is brilliant. Customers may now use rubber stamps in-store to customize their paper goods, especially without paying a fee.

Unlike regular notebook paper, Muji notebooks are smooth and durable for almost all pens. The many product sizes are also a huge benefit, especially the ones that fit in pockets. The best part is that while the gray lines are visible, they are still not too dark to overpower pencil work.

Detailed Information:

Founded: 1980

Founder: Seiji Tsutsumi

Headquarters: Toshima Ku, Tokyo, Japan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mujiusa/ (209K followers)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MUJIUSA/ (41K followers)

Website: https://www.muji.com/

Midori, also known as Midori Shokai, is a Japanese stationery brand founded in 1950. The name of the brand in Japanese means "green," used to convey the tenacity of a plant spreading its green leaves throughout a field. Interestingly, the first product of Midori was letter paper with the courier symbol, which is still an essential product along with notebooks and sketchbooks today.

Similar to Muji notebooks, Midori emphasizes the writer's experience rather than product covers. Yet, you should not judge a book by its cover. The notebook construction is superb. For instance, the book jacket for Midori MD Notebook is constructed of delicate wax paper that tarnishes and crumples over time, creating a distinctive appearance. The version comes in three styles: blank, grid, and lined.

For travel lovers, The Traveler's Notebook, Midori’s unique selling point, must be your favorite. The inside is made up of soft, creamy sheets, while the leather cover exudes an elegant age. The refill option is the most significant feature since it allows you to show your appreciation for nature and culture without limit.

Detailed Information:

Founded: 1950

Founder: Iijima Atsuhiko

Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midori_designphil/ (76.8K followers)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midori.official (22K followers)

Website: https://www.midori-japan.co.jp/

In 1920, Maruman was established in the first Koichi Iguchi, Kanda, Tokyo, with a focus on creating and selling learning sketchbooks. The business was also renowned for being the first in Japan to employ machinery to produce spiral-bound notebooks.

In addition, Maruman has dedicated time to identifying how various types of paper are used to produce distinct papers for various requirements, including studying, painting, journaling, and drawing. Therefore, Maruman deserves to be in the top 3 of the best Japanese notebooks brands worldwide.

Named after the Greek memory god, the famous notebook line Mnemosyne has made a significant impact on both Japanese notebook commerce and other international markets for years. The product series is noted for its soft cover and firmly bound with double rings. Best of all, there are no feathering or ghosting issues with the interior paper while using a variety of pens and ink.

Detailed Information:

Founded: 1920
Founder: Maruman
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e.maruman/ (67.2K followers)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/e.maruman/ (7.7K followers)
Website: https://www.e-maruman.co.jp/

Existing for over 100 years, Kokuyo is a formidable opponent to Maruman in the stationery field. The story began in 1905, when Zentaro Kuroda established the Kuroda Ledger Cover Shop, a business that produces wacho (covers for Japanese-style account ledgers). His business grew with the addition of more items over time, such as letter sheets, invoices, and accounting slips.

In 1975, the Campus Notebook series became a hit throughout Japanese colleges and universities. While the second and third generations made adjustments to the design of notebook covers, people have observed an evolution in the paper quality of the fourth and fifth generations. That still holds now; even when the notebook has been filled to the very last page, Campus Notebook is still tear-resistant.

Among the Kokuyo Campus notebooks, Kokuyo Campus Loose Leaf Paper is the best seller, with two types: Sarasara and Shikkari. Each is designed to suit different writing patterns. If you have a strong handwriting style, Shikkari's paper thickness should be more appropriate.

Detailed Information:

Founded: 1905

Founder: Zentaro Kuroda

Headquarters: Higashinari-ku, Osaka, Japan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kokuyostationery/?hl=en (32.4K followers)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kokuyostationery/ (2.4K followers)

Website: https://www.kokuyo.com/

Founded in 1998 by Shigesato Itoi, Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun is the complete name of Hobonichi, which means "almost every day" in Japanese. It is a Japanese firm that creates a variety of items for daily use, including the Techo notebook and the Haramaki (Japanese belly band). Surprisingly, the company hosts a lot of educational programs to help communities.

To prevent paints and inks, especially watercolors and fountain pen inks, from leaking through, premium Tomoe River (Tomoegawa) paper has been used for the interior (though alcohol-based pens feather somehow).

The notebook structure is one of Hobonichi's best-selling points. Each book includes four sections: an annual overview, monthly pages, several educational pages in the rear, and most importantly, one complete page for each day. Impressively, each daily page displays the current moon phase, the day or week of the year, and brief quotes. Plus, customized covers, which come in a variety of materials and several patterns each year, are another specialty. As a result, you can discover your chosen style for your notebook cover!

Detailed Information:

Founded: 1998

Founder: Shigesato Itoi

Headquarters: Kandanishikicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hobonichi_global/ (28.8K followers)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hobonichi.planner (30K followers)

Website: https://www.1101.com

Starting as a paper merchant in the 1970s in Osaka with long experience passed down from generation to generation, Yamamoto Paper started producing and selling paper goods in 2005. Since then, this Japanese firm has set a position in consumers’ hearts for its specialized quality fountain pen papers and notebooks.

And Cosmo Notebook is one of the most well-liked notebook lines from Yamamoto. The Cosmo Notebook is frequently praised for its simple design. The spine is bonded with fabric tape that has a straightforward brand imprinted into the fibers, while the cover is made of a basic gray cardboard.

For a softcover notebook, the Yamamoto Cosmo Notebook's price is acceptable. Additionally, each book has a respectable number of pages and is devoid of lines, words, or numbers, which allows you to write, draw, or make notes as you choose. The paper is what makes up the Cosmo brand, if you want to show off shading. However, the paper does take a while to dry, so patience is needed.

Detailed Information:

Founded: 1972

President: Taizo Yamamoto

Headquarters: Osaka, Sakai, Japan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yamamoto_paper/ (9,988 followers)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yamamoto.paper/ (1.3K followers)

Website: https://yamamotopaper.com/

Even though Kunisawa was established in 1971, more recently than other brands, its brand awareness has spread in the business sector in Japan. Thanks to their quality and elegance, these Kunisawa premium notebooks are formal presents to give to your business partners or relatives.

Kunisawa's exquisite logo must be brought to the table. According to the brand, the logo is inspired by the mythical Japanese three-legged crow called "Yatagarasu" (a.k.a. God of Guidance). The three legs represent earth, humanity, and heaven; they are all born of the same sun. So Kunisawa uses that symbol to cast a bright light on the future and inspire the world.

The Kunisawa paper has the same smoothness as Tomoe River but with less show-through and no bleed-through. The notebook cover is minimal, only writing its brand name "Kunisaw" alongside its logo. Inside, their motto "I do not seek, I find" is printed almost invisibly.

Detailed Information:

Founded: 1971

Founder: Ryosuke Kunisawa

Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kunisawa_official/ (3,836 followers)

Website: https://www.kunisawa.tokyo/stationary

Apica C.D. Notebook is an old but classic notebook brand made by Nippon Notebook Corporation. The Nippon Notebook Corporation has been a company in the stationery field for over a century and has remained in that position owing to its eco-friendly manufacturing practices.

Regarding the brand heritage and somewhat affordable price, many Japanese rely on the Apica C.D. notebook for daily use, especially Japanese schoolchildren and students. Particularly, most of the compliments are on the notebook’s acid-free paper, valued for its writability. Because of this, your writing ought to be retained for a long time rather than rapidly degrading like acidic ones.

If you are interested in either calligraphy or fine writing with a fountain pen, the Apica C.D. notebook paper is a fantastic choice. The sign to identify the Apica C.D. Notebook is its charming antique cover, which is able to be distinguished by Japanese expats around the world.

Detailed Information:

Founded: 1916

President: Yasuo Kadosaka

Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Instagram: www.instagram.com/apica_global (403 followers)

Website: https://www.nippon-note.co.jp/

Since its beginnings in 1923 as a magazine binding and book repair company in Japan, Nakabayashi has been producing high-quality stationery and office products. Diaries and albums are two advantages in the paper manufacturing field in Nakabayashi. In addition, Nakabayashi offers a wide range of goods and services in other industries.

Even though the Nakabayashi Logical Notebook is less well-known than some of the other products on the list, it is still a worthwhile paper product to use, particularly if you enjoy using high-quality notebooks. Believe it or not, the brand name embossed in gold foil on the cover must draw your attention right away. Plus, there are three distinct earth-toned cover alternatives suitable for officers.

Without any feathers, bleeds, or ghosts, you should love the paper used in the Nakabayashi Logical Notebook. The lined, however, is the most intriguing element since it is lined but also has a dotted grid pattern over the solid lines, which is excellent for practicing handwriting.

Detailed Information:

Founded: 1923

Founder: Yasuemon Nakabayashi

Headquarters: Itabashi-Ku, Tokyo, Japan

Website: https://www.nakabayashi.co.jp/

Founded in 1914, Tomoe River (Tomoegawa) Paper Factory was named after Tomoe River in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, where it was located back then. Despite being there for more than a century, Tomoe River paper is still regarded as the gold standard for practically all notebook paper in Japan because of its perfect smoothness. However, by the end of 2021, Tomoegawa had transferred the Tomoe River paper product trademark to Sanzen Paper Manufacturing (hence Sanzen in the brand name).

Sanzen Tomoe River paper, which was initially created for catalog mailings, has sufficient density and size to withstand a variety of purposes. It may be written on, painted on, jet printed on, hole-punched for binders, folded to form multiple paper sizes, and more. Even so, this particular paper is ideal for writing with a fountain pen. Any shade pens you used should stay completely the same color on the brilliant white, high-quality surface without any bleed-through.

For those reasons, fountain pen fans are thought to find the Sanzen Tomoe River Notebook to be a trustworthy product. Additionally, a good paper count must also suit their creative needs. Many reviews have attested to the notebook's durable exterior as well, ensuring that the notebook will not sustain harm when you carry it.

Detailed Information:

Founded: 1914
Founder: Genzaburo Inoue
Headquarters: Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
Website: http://www.sanzenseishi.co.jp/