School is back in session! Whether it is for you or a loved one, do you know what to buy? This article will be your number one guide on what to buy for school, all about Japanese stationery culture, and the best back-to-school supplies in Japan.
One thing that I really love about living in Japan is that I have access to really cute stationery items that would have cost me a fortune back in America. I really recommend anyone living in Japan (or even just visiting) to bulk up on cute notebooks, pencils, and stationery items, either for your home or to take back as souvenirs.
This is the perfect opportunity for you to do a Japanese stationery haul for yourself, for souvenirs, or even just to show off on TikTok. Either way, you definitely won’t regret getting such amazing stationery items here.
Japanese stationery culture is honestly one of the cutest parts about student life in Japan. There’s something about walking into a stationery store and seeing rows of colorful pens, adorable notebooks, and aesthetic planners that just makes studying feel more exciting. Even as an adult, I still get excited walking through stationery aisles.
Some common and popular school supplies that many Japanese students have include:
Personally, I never travel anywhere without a good pen—especially if it’s one of those pens with three different colors inside it (:. I also always carry my agenda book because I’m constantly writing something down or using the notebook paper at the end of it. The stores I mention below are perfect for getting these items.
Whether you’re someone who loves to splurge on stationery or you just want to get what you need for the lowest price possible, Japan has so many wonderful options. Some of them you may not even know about.
Of course, the most famous places to get quality stationery items for affordable prices are the 100 yen stores. You honestly can’t go wrong going there if you just want to get what you need at a budget-friendly price.
The best thing is that you don’t have to compromise between affordability and aesthetics because these stores somehow manage to combine both. The designs are adorable, trendy, and surprisingly high quality for the price.
The 100 yen stores are definitely the best places to go if you are looking for cheap school supplies in Japan or affordable Japanese stationery.
I often go to Loft for stationery items, especially at the beginning of the year when I need a new schedule book or planner.
Loft is a little pricier compared to the 100 yen stores, but the quality is always amazing and you really get what you pay for. Agendas, pencils, erasable pens, folders, stickers, and aesthetic stationery can all be found here.
If you love cute and organized school supplies, you could honestly spend hours in Loft ^^
Another notable mention is Tokyu Hands because they have some of the best quality stationery products in Japan.
Not only that, but they often have sales and discounts, so I definitely recommend downloading their app before going. It can really help you save money if you plan on buying a lot of back-to-school supplies or organization items.
There are also so many small stationery shops designed specifically for kids where you can find extremely cheap pens and pencils for unbelievably low prices.
You can often find these little shops underground near train stations or inside malls. It’s really just a matter of keeping your eyes open and walking inside.
They usually look super cute from the outside with stuffed animals, colorful bags, and tiny accessories, but once you go inside, you’ll find all kinds of affordable school supplies/ stationary items.
If you’re not from Japan (or even from another Asian country) there are a few school-related items you may completely forget about. These can actually be really important depending on the school or activity.
Some useful items include:
Japanese schools often focus heavily on organization and cleanliness, so these small items can end up being surprisingly important for student life in Japan.
As someone with years of teaching experience in Japan and as someone who is friends with many mothers here, I have a few tips that may help you while planning your school shopping budget.
You will most likely use all of the items eventually anyway, so it’s often better to buy them while they’re cheaper.
Any school or office item you can think of can usually be found in Japan. You don’t need to focus on shopping at foreign import stores because you’ll probably just end up spending extra money.
The items I suggested are just ideas to help you or a loved one enjoy student life in Japan a little more. One thing I really love about Japanese stationery culture is how it romanticizes even something as simple as school shopping
Sometimes, having a cute notebook or adorable pen can genuinely motivate you to study more.
If you’re just starting the school year or shopping around for supplies, please enjoy the experience and make it something fun for yourself. If you’re like me, having a cute pen and notebook to match makes writing feel so much more exciting. Japanese stationery culture is honestly so unique, and I really recommend embracing it while living in Japan.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself, your child, or even just buying souvenirs, back-to-school shopping in Japan is such a fun experience.
Until the next article, please stay happy, healthy, and excited for life in Japan.
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