If, like me, you’re super inspired by how much planners are a part of Japanese culture, this is the post for you. A while ago, I managed to get myself and my limited amount of college Japanese down a rabbit hole into the amazing world of Japanese planning accounts. There, you’ll find an amazing mix of business use, personal/minimal accounts, and gorgeously illustrated or sticker-collaged spreads. Not to mention the stationery products. Oh goodness gracious, the stationery products.
If you’d like to see some inspiration and follow some of my favorite Japanese planner accounts, read on!
Also, quick note: Japanese planner accounts include A LOT of text in their captions (yet another reason I’d like to learn Japanese: participate in this extensive discourse around planning techniques!). The way the images are embedded in this post mean it’s a long one; so don’t be deterred – settle in for some planning goodness!
INDIVIDUALS
↑ I think @note0105 is probably my most favorite Japanese planning Instagrammer, from the gorgeously minimal style they use in their spreads to the perfectly coordinated neutral dark tones in their stationery set-up. Swoon.
↑ @aoi_3103.86 and their lovely Jibun Techo planner make my heart and eyes happy. So minimal! Yet so color coded! I’d love to know all the various things they’re tracking in the top and bottom portion of this spread.
↑ @penri23 makes the most adorable, tiny illustrated journal reflections in their Hobonichi. Such an inspiration for any sort of artistic planner! (Also: they are clearly a tiny handwriting pro.)
↑ @bujo_nao writes in both English and Japanese, and lives in France. (Her account definitely introduced me to a ton of Japanese planner hashtags!) Her colorful spreads are a cool mix between a Japanese aesthetic and the style you might see on an English-speaking account.
↑ @coco_hortensia has basically single-handedly inspired me to start drawing my own outfits every day. Such a sweet and clever idea. As someone who’s always loved fashion illustration, her account is an inspiration! (Also, do I need a Hobonichi weeks now? … Answer: NO! But…also, maybe, right?)
BRANDS
↑ I wish I’d been able to get to Cute Things From Japan when I was in Tokyo! Still, their online shop is where I’ll be heading the first time I need a stationery fix after my trip. They stock a ton of great Japan-only items and seem like the sweetest people.
↑ Although there are lots of Japanese stationery brands whose accounts you can follow (like Zebra or Pilot pens for example), my favorite are ones who show you how to use their products. For that, I think there’s no account better than Nolty. Every post is a demo of their products in use, and they even show you “what’s coming up” on their Instagram page – handwritten in one of their planners!
↑ Pinebook Stationery is combining a Japanese planning aesthetic with bullet journaling, so I love following their account to see what they’re coming up with. They make washi tapes that you can use to create your bullet journal spreads – you can find them in the US at JetPens.
↑ ZenPop is just for fun. They’re a Japanese subscription box out of Osaka and they have ramen, sweets, and stationery boxes. How fun does that sound?! I haven’t subscribed myself yet (waiting for an excuse to treat myself!) but I love the way they mix up their product offerings with slice-of-life from Japan, explaining customs, holidays, and vocabulary. Learning made fun through stationery and treats!
HAULS & FLATLAYS
↑ Momo Loves Paper is one of my favorite accounts! She writes in English and lives in Japan, and showcases tons of new products all the time. Her stories are also wonderful, always showing beautiful detail shots.
↑ @dosukoi.k is one of my favorite flatlay/haul accounts, always showing products in a lovely muted aesthetic! The colors are beautiful.
↑ @_sha.la.lan.koharu_ always makes me want to go shopping. They choose such great minimal products to feature, and lay them out in the most wonderful things-organized-neatly way.
↑ @__mukuri__’s account is just as much planner inspiration as flatlay! Their monochromatic feed is so lovely.
ROOMS & STORAGE
↑ How can I make my desk setup look like @roxe754? Someone teach me.
↑ @m.o__study has the most coordinated desk I’ve ever seen! Their feed is also a study account, so if you like both lovely desks and study inspo, this is the person to follow.
MISCELLANEOUS
↑ If you like calligraphy of any kind, Hoshino Youryu’s account is going to make you so happy. Japanese kanji calligraphy is so beautiful to see, and Hoshino’s real-time videos are a prime example of why they’re also beautiful to watch being made, too. This would be a great account to follow if you’re learning Japanese, too!
↑ Finally, if you’ve liked the zentangles you’ve seen on my feed recently, you defnitely want to give Izumi Sato a follow. Zentangles are repeating patterns you can draw in squares or other shapes, and they are so fun and calming to draw. Izumi literally wrote the book!! Plus there are a lot of free challenges and tutorials in her feed.
I love how planning is one of those topics that can transcend language – even though I don’t speak Japanese, I’ve found so much inspiration in these accounts. Do you have any favorite planning or stationery accounts you follow whose primary language you don’t speak? Share them with me!