Hobonichi is a beloved Japanese stationery brand best known for its thoughtfully designed planners, called techo in Japanese. Created to hold much more than appointments, Hobonichi planners can be used for daily planning, journaling, sketching, memory keeping, goal tracking, or documenting everyday life.
Each planner features lightweight, fountain-pen-friendly paper, flexible grid layouts, and carefully considered details. With formats ranging from compact weekly planners to spacious daily books—and an ever-changing collection of artistic designs—Hobonichi makes it easy to create a planning system that feels uniquely yours.
Which Hobonichi Is Right for Me?
The quick version
- HON A6: Compact daily planner
- HON A5: Roomy daily planner
- Weeks: Slim weekly planner (most popular)
- Weeks Mega: Weekly planner + extra notebook pages
Choose a HON if…
You want a traditional daily planner with one page for every day. Its durable hardcover means no separate cover is required.
- A6 HON: Compact and portable—great for everyday planning, journaling, and memory keeping.
- A5 HON: More room for detailed schedules, notes, journaling, and creative layouts.
Choose a Weeks if…
You prefer to see your entire week at a glance. Its slim, portable format pairs a weekly schedule with a grid notes page—perfect for appointments, tasks, and simple planning.
Choose a Weeks Mega if…
You love the Weeks layout but also need plenty of notebook space. It has the same weekly format as the regular Weeks, with significantly more grid pages in the back for lists, projects, notes, and collections.
Launch FAQs
When will 2027 Hobonichi planners be available in-store?
We haven’t received our 2027 Hobonichi planners yet. We expect them to ship directly from Japan by August 28, so our best estimate is that they will be available in-store during the first week of September. International shipping and customs timing can vary, so we can’t guarantee an exact arrival date just yet.
When can I order 2027 Hobonichi planners on your website?
Online pre-orders for the 2027 Hobonichi collection will open on August 31 at 7:00 PM Pacific Time. Shop early for the best selection, as some designs and collaborations may sell out quickly.
Why don't have you have all of the 2027 Hobonichi planners and designs?
We’d love to carry every Hobonichi design, but as a smaller independent shop, we aren’t able to bring in the entire collection. Some 2027 items are also exclusive to the Japanese Hobonichi store and aren’t available to us as a retailer.
For the full Hobonichi selection, you can always order directly from Hobonichi in Japan. Just keep in mind that international shipping costs, customs, and import duties may apply.
We’re excited to be offering a growing selection this year, and we hope to bring in even more planner styles, designs, and accessories for 2028.
Are Hobonichi Store Exclusive gifts included with my order?
No. Gifts and bonus items identified as Hobonichi Store Exclusives are available only when ordering directly from the official Hobonichi online store in Japan. Products purchased from independent Hobonichi retailers do not include those official store-exclusive gifts.
Will sold-out Hobonichi designs be restocked?
Some Hobonichi products may be restocked after the initial launch, but restocks are never guaranteed. Many cover designs and collaborations are produced for a single year's collection, so if there is a design you absolutely love, we recommend purchasing it while it is available.
Why are some Hobonichi designs more limited than others?
Hobonichi releases new colors, artwork, textiles, and artist collaborations every year. Some designs are produced in smaller quantities or are especially popular and can sell out quickly. Once the year is over, most dated planners and seasonal designs are not carried forward into the next collection.
Product FAQs
What does "HON" mean?
The HON is Hobonichi's hardcover version of its daily Techo. Unlike the traditional Original and Cousin books, which are typically paired with a separate cover, the HON has its decorative hardcover permanently attached and is ready to use as-is.
Do I need a clear cover for my Hobonichi?
You do not need one, but many Hobonichi fans love them! Clear covers help protect compatible Weeks and HON planners from everyday scratches, scuffs, and stains while still allowing the original artwork to show through.
Clear covers are size-specific, so be sure to select the version made for your Weeks, A6 HON, or A5 HON. Clear covers are not recommended for every cover material, so check the individual product listing for compatibility before purchasing.
Does my HON include a Pencil Board?
For the 2027 collection, Pencil Boards are sold separately from the HON planner. Be sure to select the corresponding A6 or A5 size for your HON.
Are Hobonichi planners good for fountain pens?
Yes! Tomoe River paper is especially popular among fountain pen users because it handles fountain pen ink beautifully. As with any paper and ink combination, drying time and show-through can vary depending on the pen and ink you use.
What is the difference between Weeks and Weeks Mega?
The weekly planning pages are essentially the same. The big difference is the amount of notebook space in the back. The Weeks Mega contains nearly three times as many graph-paper memo pages as the standard Weeks, making it especially useful for notes, lists, journaling, work, and projects.
What is the difference between the HON A6 and HON A5?
Both HON planners feature a hardcover design and one page for each day of the year. The A6 is smaller and more portable, while the A5 offers significantly more writing space and also includes weekly vertical planning spreads.
What kind of paper does Hobonichi use?
Hobonichi planners use Tomoe River S paper, an exceptionally thin and lightweight Japanese paper. Its thinness allows Hobonichi to fit an incredible number of pages into a relatively compact planner while still providing a smooth writing experience.
Because the paper is so thin, some pens and inks may show through on the reverse side of the page. This is called ghosting and is normal with Tomoe River paper.