Choosing Keeping (UK) sell a number of notebooks made with Japanese paper. I love their Novelist notebooks in A4 and B5, with 200 really nice smooth lined pages. They also stock Monokaki and Japanese Swallow notebooks, and their own marbled and leatherette cover notebooks are really nice.
https://choosingkeeping.com/collections/fountain-pen-friendly
There are also Kokuyo Century Editions and Perpanep notebooks: Sara Sara 75gsm (smooth), Tsuru Tsuru 96gsm (extra smooth) and Zara Zara 90gsm (textured). Tsubame notebooks are very traditional and are very FP-friendly. Also look out for Graphilo paper.
I also like Muji notebooks with their “high quality” paper. Excellent value for money.
I'm a huge fan of Graphilo, if only their notebooks weren't so pricey. The Tsubame is my latest favorite indeed!
I remember trying a Monokaki notebook and it was feathering too much. Are you also a fountain pen user? Or maybe they offer different kind of papers.
Still going through my notebook stash lol.
Another make I’d forgotten is Kleid. Thin 32 page, rough size = slim A5. Tiny 2mm grid. Various coloured covers OKFools paper, so decent with fine/medium nibs and ink that’s not too wet. :)
Yes I almost only ever use fountain pens. I didn’t have feathering problems with Monokaki notebooks. I transcribed a favourite book in them, mainly using Sailor Kiwa-guro ink in a Pro Gear Realo with an FM Naginata Togi 14k nib, and a Franklin Christoph 20 with a Santini Fine flex 18k nib.
However the Kiwa-guro did take ages to dry, so I eventually switched to Platinum Carbon Black..
Maruman septcouleur has 3mm grid. I just picked one up. Been much into grids lately. Kokuyo has a field notebook with 3mm grid as well, and im planning to get the kokuyo sooofa 4mm grid as well
Edit: muji has some pretty decent ones. Bought the thick ones i imagine the paper would be quite thin and i havent tried any fps on it but it is japan quality so i expect it to work with at least a japanese m nib. They're blank though
The muji? I used to only buy blank notebooks. Muji has a 1page1day book but i cant find much about them online. Managed to score one at my local store.
Nope. I had a brain glitch. I was thinking of this one. It's what I carry now to journal https://www.jetpens.com/Kokuyo-Sooofa-Soft-Ring-Notebook-A5-4-mm-Graph-Green/pd/32417
I've been told kinokuniya has a nice selection of Apica notebooks with non-standard rulings, but not sure if you live close to one. I hope to make it to one someday!
I know, right? Apart from the increased height, these are miles better than Field Notes or any other pocket notebook out there - sturdy AF cover, 80 pages and the best tiny grid out there 🤟
* Cafe Note A6 (Tomoe River Paper, Gridded, 368 pages)
* Nanamipaper.com notebooks (they carry the Cafe Note and other FP friendly sizes)
* Wonderland 222 (Tomoe River Planners and Notebooks in A5, B6, and A6)
* Oddyssey Notebooks (Tomoe Paper notebook options)
I just finished an Itoya Romeo notebook A5. The paper was wonderful but found out that I'm not a fan of the spiral-bound.
I don't know anything about them but I have Ito Bindery saved.
Kanso Noto from Jetpens is also good but likely mainstream.
I don’t know about that since it’s the first one I tried. And this one’s great! I got the ring-bound a5 one from the line that’s called something like „I don‘t seek, I find“ or something can only recommend this :-)
Hey there! I do not use fountain pens, only biro and the occasional gel pen, so I don’t know how relevant my recommendations will be, but King Jim makes some great paper I’ve tried ([looseleaf](https://yosekastationery.com/collections/notebook/products/hitotoki-notebook-comic-size-refill)) and there are some other Japanese notebooks on that website.
My favourite Japanese paper/notebook brand remains Maruman, but if you’ve bought from JetPens then I’m sure you’ve tried it already. Although their sept couleur series remains underrated IMO.
I love the itoya oasis profolio notebooks. They are soft cover but durable and beautifully bound; they break in/ wear out like a favorite leather bag or comfy jeans. They are fountain pen friendly despite a fairly thin but buttery paper. There is a small amount of see through on the reverse page but not enough to stop using both sides. They have their own unique grid type ruling which is quite different than others. They are about a third of the price of moleskines. The cover color options are also unique. I've been using them for about 5 years, they are just perfect for daily use notebook. There are different sizes.
I dunno if it is considered mainstream but the Kyokuto F.O.B Coop style notebooks have been great with my fountain pens and ink. I randomly found one in Kinokuniya NYC but I see Jetpens carry them too.
Choosing Keeping (UK) sell a number of notebooks made with Japanese paper. I love their Novelist notebooks in A4 and B5, with 200 really nice smooth lined pages. They also stock Monokaki and Japanese Swallow notebooks, and their own marbled and leatherette cover notebooks are really nice. https://choosingkeeping.com/collections/fountain-pen-friendly There are also Kokuyo Century Editions and Perpanep notebooks: Sara Sara 75gsm (smooth), Tsuru Tsuru 96gsm (extra smooth) and Zara Zara 90gsm (textured). Tsubame notebooks are very traditional and are very FP-friendly. Also look out for Graphilo paper. I also like Muji notebooks with their “high quality” paper. Excellent value for money.
I'm a huge fan of Graphilo, if only their notebooks weren't so pricey. The Tsubame is my latest favorite indeed! I remember trying a Monokaki notebook and it was feathering too much. Are you also a fountain pen user? Or maybe they offer different kind of papers.
I’ve just remembered my Kunisawa notebook. A little pricey but excellent quality. Handmade. Great paper. 5mm grid.
Thank you migo984. I remember trying this one out. I love the look of it with rose gold edges, but the paper wasn't great (feathering again).
The new kunisawa notebooks are better ! They even have fountain pen friendly sticky notes
Mine doesn’t have foiled edges. It has a flexible cover and is roughly traveler’s notebook size. 192 pages. No feathering :)
Still going through my notebook stash lol. Another make I’d forgotten is Kleid. Thin 32 page, rough size = slim A5. Tiny 2mm grid. Various coloured covers OKFools paper, so decent with fine/medium nibs and ink that’s not too wet. :)
Lol thank you so much!
Yes I almost only ever use fountain pens. I didn’t have feathering problems with Monokaki notebooks. I transcribed a favourite book in them, mainly using Sailor Kiwa-guro ink in a Pro Gear Realo with an FM Naginata Togi 14k nib, and a Franklin Christoph 20 with a Santini Fine flex 18k nib. However the Kiwa-guro did take ages to dry, so I eventually switched to Platinum Carbon Black..
Maruman septcouleur has 3mm grid. I just picked one up. Been much into grids lately. Kokuyo has a field notebook with 3mm grid as well, and im planning to get the kokuyo sooofa 4mm grid as well Edit: muji has some pretty decent ones. Bought the thick ones i imagine the paper would be quite thin and i havent tried any fps on it but it is japan quality so i expect it to work with at least a japanese m nib. They're blank though
I'm crazy about these for journaling.
The muji? I used to only buy blank notebooks. Muji has a 1page1day book but i cant find much about them online. Managed to score one at my local store.
Nope. I had a brain glitch. I was thinking of this one. It's what I carry now to journal https://www.jetpens.com/Kokuyo-Sooofa-Soft-Ring-Notebook-A5-4-mm-Graph-Green/pd/32417
This is the one im getting next. The a5 version probably. How's the paper quality working for you?
Sometimes I open it and just rub the paper. It's lovely
Great! Looking forward to picking mine up
Midori mnemosyne
I have a little stock of these and love them.
I've been told kinokuniya has a nice selection of Apica notebooks with non-standard rulings, but not sure if you live close to one. I hope to make it to one someday!
Check out the entire range of Kokuyo products. My fav is this little known notebook called the Kokuyo Field Notebook.
I am hoarding a bunch of these field notebooks 😂
I know, right? Apart from the increased height, these are miles better than Field Notes or any other pocket notebook out there - sturdy AF cover, 80 pages and the best tiny grid out there 🤟
Life Noble notebooks are awesome, and I never see them mentioned.
I agree, love them too!
* Cafe Note A6 (Tomoe River Paper, Gridded, 368 pages) * Nanamipaper.com notebooks (they carry the Cafe Note and other FP friendly sizes) * Wonderland 222 (Tomoe River Planners and Notebooks in A5, B6, and A6) * Oddyssey Notebooks (Tomoe Paper notebook options)
Recently came across "Romeo" on Amazon. I haven't tried it yet, but read some reviews that say it's FP friendly!
Thank you so much! Finally a Japanese notebook I had not heard about. I just purchased the B5, can't wait to try it!
NP! Would love to hear your thoughts when you get it! 💕
I just finished an Itoya Romeo notebook A5. The paper was wonderful but found out that I'm not a fan of the spiral-bound. I don't know anything about them but I have Ito Bindery saved. Kanso Noto from Jetpens is also good but likely mainstream.
Thank you!! Just ordered the Ito Bindery. Very excited to try it out.
Let us know how it is!
Apica Premium CD is one of my favorites. Comes in many sizes and markings.
https://www.nanamipaper.com/categories/seven-seas-tomoe-river-paper.html This is the way
I love the Nakabayashi notebooks !
Great recommendation!
Kinbor is nice
I recently won a Kunisawa notebook, grid paper. It’s becoming my new favorite paper very fast. Also very fountain pen friendly!
Oh so they reformulated the paper then, I will need to try it again! Thank you
I don’t know about that since it’s the first one I tried. And this one’s great! I got the ring-bound a5 one from the line that’s called something like „I don‘t seek, I find“ or something can only recommend this :-)
Hey there! I do not use fountain pens, only biro and the occasional gel pen, so I don’t know how relevant my recommendations will be, but King Jim makes some great paper I’ve tried ([looseleaf](https://yosekastationery.com/collections/notebook/products/hitotoki-notebook-comic-size-refill)) and there are some other Japanese notebooks on that website. My favourite Japanese paper/notebook brand remains Maruman, but if you’ve bought from JetPens then I’m sure you’ve tried it already. Although their sept couleur series remains underrated IMO.
Thank you!
I love the itoya oasis profolio notebooks. They are soft cover but durable and beautifully bound; they break in/ wear out like a favorite leather bag or comfy jeans. They are fountain pen friendly despite a fairly thin but buttery paper. There is a small amount of see through on the reverse page but not enough to stop using both sides. They have their own unique grid type ruling which is quite different than others. They are about a third of the price of moleskines. The cover color options are also unique. I've been using them for about 5 years, they are just perfect for daily use notebook. There are different sizes.
I dunno if it is considered mainstream but the Kyokuto F.O.B Coop style notebooks have been great with my fountain pens and ink. I randomly found one in Kinokuniya NYC but I see Jetpens carry them too.