3 Best Japanese Journals 2026: Hobonichi vs. Midori Guide

The Original measures 105mm x 148mm, which is standard A6 size. Think slightly larger than a typical pocket notebook. Each day gets one page with a 3.7mm grid. The grid is crucial because it provides structure without imposing a rigid schedule format. When I'm using the Original, I can fit my daily tasks, a quick journal entry, and maybe a small sketch or collage element. But it requires editing. You learn to be concise.

The real advantage shows up in portability. I can slip the Original into a jacket pocket or small bag. During industry events here in Tokyo, that matters. I've watched people struggle with larger planners at manufacturer meetings while pulling out the Original to jot notes takes seconds.

The Cousin at 148mm x 210mm offers exactly double the writing space of the Original. Same daily page format, but now you have room to think on paper. I switched to the Cousin when I realized I was running out of space by midday in the Original. The extra real estate means I can track multiple projects, add more detailed thoughts, and still have blank space at the end of the day. That blank space matters more than you'd expect. It prevents the feeling of obligation that comes with a page that demands to be filled.

The Cousin also includes a weekly section at the front. These weekly spreads give you a bird's eye view before diving into daily pages. I use them for deadline tracking and noting which days will be heavy. It's redundant information, technically, but having it in two formats helps with planning.

Both versions use Tomoe River S paper at 52gsm. The 2026 edition represents the latest refinement after user feedback about the 2025 version. I've tested it extensively with fountain pens, and the improvement is tangible. The paper feels slightly thicker under your fingers compared to last year, though the gsm stays the same. More importantly, the coating has been adjusted to reduce ghosting without sacrificing the paper's signature smoothness.

With a Japanese fine nib fountain pen, dry time is around 3 to 5 seconds. A Western medium nib needs closer to 8 to 10 seconds. You learn to write, pause, and let the page breathe before closing the book. Some people find this meditative. Others find it annoying. Either way, keeping a small piece of blotting paper in your cover solves most issues.

The paper showcases ink sheen beautifully, which is why fountain pen users gravitate toward Hobonichi. But it also means gel pens can feel slightly slippery, and some people report their ballpoint handwriting looks different on Tomoe River versus standard paper. The super smooth surface offers less resistance, so your pen glides faster than you might expect.

Go with the Original if you write concisely, value portability, and don't need extensive daily space. It works perfectly for task tracking, brief daily records, and people who supplement their planning with digital tools.

Choose the Cousin if you journal extensively, manage multiple projects, or want room to collage and decorate. The weekly overview section makes it slightly better for traditional weekly planning, though both formats can accommodate any planning style with some adaptation.

The binding technique deserves specific attention because it fundamentally changes how you use the notebook. Codex binding features exposed thread stitching along the spine with a cloth tape reinforcement. Unlike perfect binding (glued spine) or standard stitched binding covered with a spine material, the MD notebook leaves everything visible. This isn't aesthetic posturing. The exposed binding allows the notebook to lay completely flat from the first page to the last page. Not mostly flat. Perfectly flat.

I tested this with a 368-page notebook, which is thick enough that most binding methods show spine resistance. The MD opens to page 200 with the same ease as page 20. When you're writing or sketching, both pages stay down without hand pressure. This matters enormously if you work across a spread or need to reference your writing while doing something else with your hands.

Each page includes a perforated corner. After you finish a day's entry, you tear the corner off. This creates a physical bookmark that's impossible to lose because it's part of the notebook structure. I was skeptical about this feature initially, assuming it was a gimmick. After three weeks of use, I'm convinced it's brilliant design.

The perforation is clean. No ragged edges or partial tears. The corner removes with a satisfying snap, and you immediately know where you left off by the missing corners. More subtly, tearing the corner provides a sense of completion. You've finished the day, recorded what mattered, and physically marked it done. This small ritual has more psychological impact than I expected.

MD paper traces back to Midori's 1960s diary paper, refined continuously since then. It sits at approximately 70 to 80gsm, considerably thicker than Tomoe River. The paper has a cream color with subtle warmth. Unlike Tomoe River's glassy smoothness, MD paper has tooth. You can feel the surface texture under your pen.

This texture matters for different writing instruments. Fountain pens encounter slight resistance, which some people prefer. It gives feedback, a sense that you're pressing into something rather than gliding across a surface. Pencil users particularly love MD paper. The tooth grabs graphite beautifully, allowing for varied line weight and shading. I've watched several artist friends switch to MD notebooks specifically for pencil sketching.

Dry time is faster than Tomoe River. A fountain pen line dries in 2 to 4 seconds, even with wetter inks. The trade-off is slightly less sheen compared to Tomoe River. MD paper prioritizes practicality over ink showcase, which aligns with its minimalist design philosophy.

The paper shows minimal ghosting and virtually no bleedthrough with standard fountain pens. I tested it with a Pilot Custom 823 with a wet medium nib and Iroshizuku Kon-peki ink, which tends to bleed on lesser papers. The MD paper handled it without issue. Only an exceptionally wet broad nib or brush pen might cause problems.

The lack of pre-printed structure is both the MD notebook's strength and its challenge. There are no time blocks, no date headers beyond space for you to write them. You decide if a day needs half a page, two pages, or five pages. This flexibility works beautifully if you have variable journaling needs. Some days I write three sentences. Other days I need to work through complex project planning and fill multiple pages.

But this format requires self-motivation. There's nothing prompting you to write. No guilt about an empty dated page. If you skip days, the notebook simply waits. This can be liberating or paralysing depending on your personality.

The Hibino uses Tomoe River S paper, same as the Hobonichi. But 768 pages of Tomoe River in A6 size creates interesting handling characteristics. The notebook has surprising heft for its compact dimensions. The pages feel substantial when you flip through them, and the thread binding holds everything together without flex or wobble.

Because you're working with two-page spreads, the lay-flat design becomes essential. The Hibino opens cleanly to any spread without spine resistance. Both pages sit at the same level, creating a unified writing surface. This wouldn't work with standard binding at this thickness.

Here's the honest limitation: 768 pages is a lot of paper. The notebook measures about 27mm thick. It won't fit in a standard pocket. In a bag, it takes up space equivalent to a thick paperback book. You're committing to carrying substantial weight if you want your Hibino with you constantly.

This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker. Many people use the Hibino as a desk journal rather than a portable planner. The two-page format works particularly well for end-of-day reflection when you have time to sit and write properly. During the day, you might use a smaller capture tool, then transfer important items to the Hibino later.

After testing all three extensively, here's how I'd frame the decision:

Choose the Hobonichi Original if you want a compact, structured daily page that fits in your pocket and provides just enough space for task tracking and brief notes. It's the practical choice for people who plan digitally but want an analog capture point.

Choose the Hobonichi Cousin if you need the structure of dated pages but want room to think on paper. The A5 size offers breathing room without the bulk of larger planners. The weekly overview adds planning capability that the Original lacks.

Choose the Midori MD 1 Day 1 Page if you value flexibility over structure and want superior paper for fountain pen or pencil work. The codex binding makes it ideal for anyone who works across spreads or uses the notebook flat on a desk. The tear-off corners add a satisfying physical component to daily completion.

Choose the Hibino if you need comprehensive daily space with structured time blocking and want everything in one place. The two-page format prevents the cramped feeling of single-page journals while maintaining portability. It's the choice for detailed planners and extensive journalers.

All three are now available at Fujinote. After spending weeks with each, I can say with confidence that any of these will serve you well through 2026. The best journal isn't the one with the most features. It's the one you'll actually use every day. That decision only you can make, but at least now you know exactly what you're choosing between.