Hobonichi is a Japanese planner brand that has been attracting pen, paper, and minimalist design enthusiasts for years. Its flagship product - the Hobonichi Techo - combines a functional layout with very thin, yet durable Tomoe River paper, making it ideal for daily planning, journaling, and note-taking. For several years, it has been recognized worldwide as the fastest-selling and most coveted calendar!

In this post, I explain what makes Hobonichi stand out, what are the main calendar models (Original, Cousin, Weeks), and which layout will work best for you – also with those new to planners in mind.

Why Hobonichi? 5 reasons to choose this Japanese planner

- One of the best papers on the market – ultra-thin Tomoe River (approx. 52 g/m²) minimizes ink bleed-through, even with fountain pens (within reasonable nib thickness!)
- Compact sizes – A6 and Weeks models fit in a purse, jacket pocket, or backpack.
- Clear layouts – from "one page per day" to weekly views, with options for those who write a lot or prefer a quick weekly overview.
- Aesthetics and extras – this is what a multitude of fans look forward to every year: a wide selection of covers (leather, fabric, limited editions), bookmarks, and accessories, and for 2027, also a Moomin collection, previously only available in Japan.
- Versatility – a planner, journal, bullet journal, and calendar in one - users compete in ideas on how to plan space, making it easy to find inspiration!

Hobonichi Techo – models and layouts - how do they differ?

Below you will find a simple overview of the three main lines: Original, Techo Planner, Cousin, and Weeks, as well as the Hon edition. Each has a different size, layout, and purpose.

Hobonichi Techo Planner – "the classic in English - one page per day"

Who is it for? For those who value minimalism and don't want to buy an additional cover. Created in collaboration with Arts&Science. Monochromatic design with one page for each day. Available only in English.

Layout:
- Days: 1 page per day (A6), approx. 4 mm grid, printed date.
- No rigid hourly columns in the standard version – you have a clean space for your own system.

Size and weight: approx. 105 × 148 mm, approx. 195 g (block only)

Hobonichi Techo Original (A6) – "one page per day"

Who is it for? For those who want a full page for each day, enjoy handwriting, making lists, tracking habits, and adding a touch of decoration (washi, stickers). All in a minimalist form and small size! Available in two language versions: English and Japanese.

Layout:
- Days: 1 page per day (A6), approx. 3.7–4 mm grid, printed date.
- No rigid hourly columns in the standard version – you have a clean space for your own system.

Size and weight: approx. 105 × 148 mm, approx. 195 g (block only)

Hobonichi Techo Cousin (A5) – space for the demanding

Who is it for: For those who plan in detail, keep extensive journals, scrapbook, or need space for drawings and larger notes.

Layout:
- Year: yearly overview + monthly.
- Weeks: vertical weekly view (timeline) – Cousin's unique feature.
- Days: 1 page per day (A5), more space than in the Original due to the format.

Size and weight: approx. 148 × 210 mm, approx. 445 g (block only).


Hobonichi Techo Weeks – weekly, narrow, and light

Who is it for: For those who want a quick overview of the entire week, value portability, and prefer to plan "from a bird's eye view" rather than a page per day.

Layout:
- Year: yearly overview + monthly.
- Week: left page – 7 days horizontally (Monday to Sunday), right page – blank grid for notes/trackers or drawings!
- Weeks Mega version has significantly more blank pages for notes (additional ~140–196 pages).

Size and weight: approx. 94 × 188 mm, approx. 131–138 g (block only).

Hobonichi Hon – available in A6 and A5 versions

Equivalents of the Original and Cousin planners in hard covers, so you don't even have to think about which additional cover to choose this year. The interior is exactly the same as their softcover versions.

Layout:
- Year: yearly overview + monthly.
- Weeks: vertical weekly view (timeline) – Cousin's unique feature.
- Days: 1 page per day (A5 or A6).

Size and weight: approx. 148 × 210 mm, weight depending on finish.

Hobonichi and fountain pens and inks – what's worth knowing?

If – like many users in our community – you like fountain pens and test various inks, Hobonichi is one of the safest choices among planners. But it is not without its drawbacks.

- Tomoe River paper is very thin, but thanks to a special coating, it limits bleed-through and feathering.
- The 3.5–4 mm grid helps maintain an even margin and aesthetic lines of text.
- With very wet inks (e.g., some shimmery, heavily sheening inks), it's still worth doing a test on the last page – but most everyday inks perform very well. However, the thicker the nib, the more ink on the paper and the greater the risk of smudging - it's worth remembering that Japanese pens = thin nibs, so Japanese papers handle them without a problem, but popular European Stub or B nibs can also be an issue - it's worth testing a specific ink yourself!

How to choose the right layout for you? 3 quick questions that I hope will clear up initial doubts!

Before you decide, honestly answer these three questions:

1. How much do you want to write daily?
- Lots of text, journal, decorations → Original or Cousin
- Short lists, keywords, quick notes → Weeks

2. Do you carry your planner with you every day?
- Yes, lightness is important to you → Weeks or Techo Planner (without an additional cover)
- Planner mainly stays on your desk / in your briefcase → Cousin or Hon A5 version

3. Do you prefer a daily or weekly view?
- "One day = one page" → Original, Techo Planner or Cousin
- "I see the whole week at once" → Weeks or Weeks Mega

I hope this overview has clarified all Hobonichi versions for you.