For an updated version of this post see my new site, Must Have Stationery.
Japanese Planners have quickly found popularity all over the world. And while you might know a few names, like Hobonichi, or Midori, there are so many out there that you should check out. While I could go on and on forever about all of the great options for planners including the minimal Muji planners, inexpensive ones you can find at Daiso, or well-known and loved brands like Nolty or Rollbahn, I wanted to focus on arguably the top four most well-known Japanese Planner brands and break down all of the various options they offer. Because, if you scroll down, there are so. Many. Options. And only you know which planner will work best for you and which style suits your taste. So, without going on and on, here are, in my opinion, the best Japanese planners.
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If you just want to see the planners I chose here’s the TLDR:
Further down I go into detail about what each planner to help you in choosing your next one.
What to Think About when Choosing a Planner:
Format:
Standard planners come in one of three formats: daily, weekly, or monthly. Most daily and weekly planners also include monthly calendars so you can plan events and projects in advance. And some planners, like the Hobonichi cousin, have monthly, weekly, and daily pages all in one planner which is a great option for those who want versatility or who need all of that space to keep track of their busy schedules.
Daily planners, as you’d guess, dedicate one page per day. Creative journalers and artists will find daily planners useful. With so much free space, journal entries and drawings will have plenty of room to fit. This is how I use the daily pages of the Hobonichi A6: using it to journal and document my life for posterity and as a creative outlet. But you can also use the daily pages to help you get even more organized, by allowing you to focus on one day at a time and having a large amount of space for your schedule and to-do lists.
To visualize an entire week in an efficient way, weekly planners fit the bill. Some use a vertical format that is often accompanied by an hourly tracker. A horizontal weekly planner can be designed in one of two ways: the week taking up the left and right page, or the week on the left and a blank page on the right. This is how my Kokuyo Jibun Techo is set up. I use this as my function planner to keep track of our schedule and my tasks and to do lists. If I didn’t have this planner my life would almost literally fall apart, or, more realistically, I would just be pretty unproductive and my kids would be late to a lot of things. I like the weekly view because I can get a good picture of the week and where we are at any time. And I like the weekly to do list because I just work better knowing if I really can’t get to a task that day, I have the next day to do it, whereas when I tried to use a daily planner, I felt unproductive if I had to copy over my to do list to the next day many times in a row.
A long-term planner is not generally used for everyday tasks. Rather, it allows you to write a short paragraph about a given day over a span of time. You can use it to show fitness progress, keep a record of a child’s early years, or write about your growth. I don’t personally use a long-term planner but because I daily journal in my hobonichi, I’m essentially doing the same thing, just in multiple planners. That’s the benefit of a dedicated long-term planner: they are usually smaller (because there’s less space given for each day) and they’re only one book so you don’t have to keep buying or replacing planners each year and all of your memories are compiled into one place.
Dated or Undated
A dated planner is printed with the date and month for a given year. You can jump straight into planning without filling anything out. However, a dated planner can only be used for a specific year. I always use dated planners because I tend to be lazy and want most of this done for me. Plus I like using them as reference for future events without needing to take the time to fill anything out.
An undated planner is an excellent choice for those who may not need dedicated daily, weekly, or monthly pages. For example, students who don’t take classes over the summer might prefer an undated planner. You can fill in the dates on an undated planner, so you can start it and skip pages whenever you want. I know a lot of people who love undated planners for their versatility and the ability to “skip” days without having blank pages in the planner and feeling like you’ve wasted money.
Size
The size of your planner is a major consideration. A remote freelancer needs a planner that’s different from one used by a traveling worker. Having an A4 planner instead of a B6 one could make or break your carry-on luggage! One of the reasons I chose the Jibun Techo was because of its slim size. Not only does its slim size fit easily in my bag, but its thin paper means the entire planner is thin and lightweight. I used an Erin Condren Lifeplanner for a while but quickly found it wouldn’t work for me. I never wanted to take it out of the house, let alone travel with it, so it just wasn’t fitting my needs. I was happy to find most Japanese planners are more compact so I never worry about leaving my books at home.
If you find yourself doing most of your planning at your desk, larger A4 or A5 planners give you plenty of space to develop your thoughts. For those looking for portability, an A6 planner fits neatly in a briefcase, backpack, or purse and is light enough to be nearly unnoticeable.
Some planners come in altered or slim sizes that help make them easier to carry around. However, because these notebooks are non-standard, they may require a proprietary cover or simply don’t fit in one at all. Check the dimensions to make sure a planner fits the cover of your choice.
Paper
Planners with high-quality paper perform well with all kinds of writing instruments and art supplies. Smooth, ink-resistant paper makes your writing experience more enjoyable. Not only will you be less likely to run into issues with ink feathering or bleeding through the page, you will also enjoy writing down the tasks you need to complete. The thickness of the paper also plays into the size and portability of your planner, so you’ll want to take that into consideration as well.
Now let’s get into the specifics of each planner.
Hobonichi Techo
Hobonichi planners are extraordinarily popular and might be the most well-known Japanese planner brand. Each planner is packed with ultra-thin Tomoe River paper, which reduces bulk while staying remarkably resistant to ink. Creative journalers can fill the pages with markers, colored pencils, and even light watercolor washes. You can learn more about the Hobonichi Techo by reading my guide.
If you find your Hobonichi Techo becoming bulky over the course of the year, the Avec splits the year into two booklets. The A5 Cousin and A6 Original both come in Avec versions.
The A6 Hobonichi Techo is available in Japanese or English. The Japanese-language Hobonichi Techo Original is available as a Monday- or Sunday-start version. It also has a slightly different daily format and smaller grid size.
Daily Hobonichi’s
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Hobonichi Techo Cousin | Daily | A5 | Comes with or without cover Tomoe River paper Year index Monthly calendars Dated weekly section with vertical hourly tracker in front Gridded pages in back Informational pages |
| Hobonichi Techo Original | Daily | A6 | Comes with or without cover Tomoe River paper Year index Monthly calendars Dot grid pages in back Informational pages |
| Hobonichi Techo Planner | Daily | A6 | Comes with or without cover English-language version of the A6 Hobonichi Techo Tomoe River paper Year index Monthly calendars Dot grid pages in back Informational pages |
Buy now on Amazon US, Amazon Japan, or Etsy.
Weekly Hobonichi’s
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Hobonichi Techo Weeks | Half Horizontal Weekly | Medium | Tomoe River paper Year index Monthly calendars Grid pages in back Informational pages Sticker pocket |
| Hobonichi Techo Weeks Mega | Half Horizontal Weekly | Medium | Tomoe River paper Year index Monthly calendars Three times as many grid pages in back Informational pages Sticker pocket |
Buy Now on Amazon US, Amazon Japan, or Etsy.
Monthly Hobonichi
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Hobonichi Techo Day-Free | Monthly | A5, A6 | Comes without cover Tomoe River paper Year index Monthly calendars Gridded pages Informational pages |
Buy Now on Amazon US, Amazon Japan, or Etsy.
Kokuyo Jibun Techo
The Kokuyo Jibun Techo is a weekly planner that uses a vertical, hourly format. There are four versions available: the Standard, Biz, Lite, and DAYs. You can learn more about the Jibun Techo in my comprehensive guide.
The Standard First Kit is a planner system that you can carry from one year to the next. It also includes the Idea and Life booklets, which help you keep track of life’s meaningful experiences. Its refreshing palette of blues and oranges make every page stand out. The Standard and Pale covers remove the extra booklets for a slimmer planner, but you can always add the booklets if you prefer.
For business professionals, the Biz has a monochromatic look. The Lite is a simplified version that fits in backpacks and purses with ease, making it an excellent academic planner. The Biz and Lite are meant to be used by themselves for a sleek planner that can be carried anywhere.
The DAYs is Kokuyo’s take on a daily planner. It splits the year into two six-month booklets that can be swapped out of the included cover.
Kokuyo Jibun Techo Pale, Standard, Biz, and Lite
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Kokuyo Jibun Techo First Kit Standard | Vertical Weekly | A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim | Comprehensive three-book planning system Plastic cover with cardholders and pen loop Writing board with elastic band Bookmark Kokuyo THIN paper Year index Monthly calendars Hourly trackers Grid pages in back Informational pages |
| Kokuyo Jibun Techo Diary Pale Cover | Vertical Weekly | A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim | Plastic cover with cardholders and pen loop Bookmark Kokuyo THIN paper Year index Monthly calendars Hourly trackers Grid pages in back Informational pages |
| Kokuyo Jibun Techo Diary Standard Cover | Vertical Weekly | A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim | Plastic and paper cover with cardholders and pen loop Bookmark Kokuyo THIN paper Year index Monthly calendars Hourly trackers Grid pages in back Informational pages |
| Kokuyo Jibun Techo Biz | Vertical Weekly | A5 Slim, Mini B6 Slim | Slim size Plastic cover with cardholders and pen loop Bookmark Kokuyo MIO paper Year index Monthly calendars Hourly trackers Grid pages in back Informational pages |
| Kokuyo Jibun Techo Lite | Vertical Weekly | Mini B6 Slim | Slim, portable size Kokuyo THIN paper Year index Monthly calendars Hourly trackers Grid pages in back Informational pages |
Buy now from Amazon US or Amazon Japan.
Kokuyo Jibun Techo Days Diary
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Kokuyo Jibun Techo DAYs Diary | Daily | Mini B6 Slim | Slim, portable size Kokuyo THIN paper Year index Monthly calendars Informational pages |
Kokuyo Campus Diary Free- Monthly
If you like Kokuyo’s Campus notebooks, you’ll enjoy the matching Campus Diary Free Schedule. These simple notebooks are great student planners. A Year index and monthly calendars can be filled with essay deadlines and exam dates without wasting pages over the summer break.
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Kokuyo Campus Diary Free Monthly Schedule | Monthly | Semi B5, A5, B6 | Cardstock cover Year index Lined pages in back |
Buy Now from Amazon US or Amazon Japan.
Kokuyo Pat-mi Pocket Diary
The innovative Pat-mi Pocket Diary is a monthly calendar and vertical weekly planner in one! Each week has an hourly tracker per day while leaving the rest of the month visible. It’s an excellent planner addition that can help you visualize future events, but is also useful on its own. The Pat-mi Pocket Diary can be tucked into the back cover of a Jibun Techo, or any notebook that is B6 or larger.
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Kokuyo Pat-mi Pocket Diary | Monthly, Vertical Weekly | B6 Modified | Cardstock cover Hourly trackers |
Traveler’s Company
The Traveler’s Company Traveler’s notebook is a vintage-inspired, refillable notebook system. The high-quality leather cover uses elastic bands to attach various notebooks, allowing you to completely customize what you carry. It’s not just a good option for travelers—those who like everything they need for a day in one place will also enjoy the Traveler’s notebook and its accessories. You can use a combination of planners and notebooks to catch all your thoughts.
Read my Traveler’s Notebook Guide.
Traveler’s Notebook Monthly Planner
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Traveler’s notebook Monthly Planner | Monthly | Regular, Passport | Two half-year booklets Cardstock cover Midori MD paper Year index Blank pages in back Informational pages Sheet of decorative stickers |
Shop now on Amazon US, Amazon JP or Etsy.
Traveler’s Notebook Weekly Vertical Planner
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Traveler’s notebook Weekly Vertical Planner | Vertical Weekly | Regular | Two half-year booklets Cardstock cover Midori MD paper Year index Hourly trackers Sheet of decorative stickers |
Buy Now from Amazon US or Etsy.
Traveler’s Notebook Weekly Planner
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Traveler’s notebook Weekly Planner | Horizontal Weekly | Passport | Two half-year booklets Cardstock cover Midori MD paper Year index Sheet of decorative stickers |
Buy Now from Etsy or Amazon Japan.
Traveler’s Notebook Weekly Planner with Memo
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Traveler’s notebook Weekly Planner with Memo | Half Horizontal Weekly | Regular | Two half-year booklets Cardstock cover Midori MD paper Year index Sheet of decorative stickers |
Buy Now from Amazon US, Amazon Japan, or Etsy.
These Traveler’s notebook refills are undated versions of the planner booklets mentioned above. Each notebook except for the Free Daily Planner Grid has enough pages to use it for six months.
Traveler’s notebook Free Daily Planner Grid
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Traveler’s notebook Free Daily Planner Grid | Daily | Regular | Cardstock cover Midori MD paper Monthly index Covers two months |
Buy Now from Amazon US or Amazon Japan.
Traveler’s notebook Free Monthly Planner
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Traveler’s notebook Free Monthly Planner | Monthly | Regular, Passport | Cardstock cover Midori MD paper Monthly index Grid pages in front |
Buy Passport Size Now from Amazon US or Amazon Japan.
Buy Regular Size Now from Amazon US or Amazon Japan.
Traveler’s notebook Free Weekly Planner
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Traveler’s notebook Free Weekly Planner | Full Horizontal Weekly | Passport | Cardstock cover Midori MD paper Monthly index |
Buy Now from Amazon US or Amazon Japan.
Traveler’s notebook Free Weekly Planner with Memo
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Traveler’s notebook Free Weekly Planner with Memo | Half Horizontal Weekly | Regular | Cardstock cover Midori MD paper Monthly index Grid pages in front |
Buy Now from Amazon US or Amazon Japan.
Traveler’s notebook Free Weekly Vertical Planner
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Traveler’s notebook Free Weekly Vertical Planner | Vertical Weekly | Regular | Cardstock cover Midori MD paper Monthly index |
Buy Now from Amazon US or Amazon JP.
Midori
Don’t let the plain appearance of the Midori MD Diary fool you: these planners are packed with Midori’s luxurious MD paper. The cream-colored pages pair well with fountain pens and evoke the feeling of vintage books. The minimalist aesthetic is thoughtfully designed to provide just enough structure for planning. The undated pages in the back can be used as a weekly planner. The Thin sizes trade ruled pages for grid paper.
Midori MD Diary, Diary Thin
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Midori MD Diary | Monthly | A5, B6 Slim, A6 | Cardstock cover Bookmark Midori MD paper Lined and blank pages in back Stickers to label cover and spine |
| Midori MD Diary – Thin | Monthly | A4, A5 Thin | Slim size Cardstock cover Bookmark Midori MD paper Grid pages in back Stickers to label cover and spine |
Buy Now from Amazon Japan. Or look on JetPens.
Midori MD 1 Day 1 Page Diary
From left to right: Midori MD 1 Day 1 Page Diary A5 & A6 Sizes. 2020 version shown. Planner cover design may differ slightly year to year.
Like the weekly version, the MD 1 Day 1 Page Diary has fourteen monthly calendars in the front. However, the bulk of this planner is made up of undated, daily pages. You can use it as a page a day planner, or skip pages as you wish.
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Midori MD 1 Day 1 Page Diary | Daily | A5, A6 | Flexible softcover Two bookmarks Midori MD paper Hourly trackers Lined paged in back Index tab stickers |
Midori Pocket Diary
From left to right: Midori Pocket Diary B6 & Slim sizes. 2021 version shown. Planner cover design may differ slightly year to year.
The adorable Pocket Diary is so cute that you might find yourself making plans just so you can schedule them in the notebook! Both versions of the Pocket Diary include themed calendars that change from month to month. The B6 planner also has weekly pages and index tabs that make it easy to flip to the right month.
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Midori Pocket Diary | Half Horizontal Weekly | B6 | Flexible plastic cover with pen loop Index tabs for each month Year index Monthly calendars Themed pages Lined pages in back |
| Midori Pocket Diary – Slim | Monthly | Medium | Slim size Flexible plastic cover with pen loop Year index Monthly calendars Themed pages Lined pages in back |
Midori Flat Diary
Midori Flat Diary. 2021 version shown. Planner cover design may differ slightly year to year.
This planner fits in the A5 Pouch Diary, which was discontinued. If you own one from previous years, you can pair this planner with the cover. This lightweight planner can also be used on its own.
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Midori Flat Diary | Monthly | A5 | Monthly calendars |
Midori Pouch Diary – Slim
Midori Pouch Diary – Slim size. 2021 version shown. Planner cover design may differ slightly year to year.
This planner is compatible with the discontinued Slim Pouch Diary. If you own a cover, you can continue using it with this refill. Alternatively, its everyday carry-friendly size makes it an excellent stand-alone planner.
| Name | Format | Size | Features |
| Midori Pouch Diary – Slim | Half Horizontal Weekly | Slim | Slim size Two bookmarks Year index Monthly calendars Lined pages in back |
Which planner will you be using to organize your tasks and reach your goals in this year? Is there another Japanese brand you love more than the four mentioned? Let me know!
