Hobonichi Techo


The Hobonichi Techo is a popular Japanese brand notebook/daily planner manufactured by Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun.

Features

The planner's pages feature a 4 mm lined grid to maximize customization and is printed on Tomoe River paper, a very thin and high quality paper. Originally, Tomoegawa manufactured this paper until 2021 when the company Sanzen took over production of Tomoe River Paper. Now produced by Sanzen, it is referred to as Tomoe River S Paper. Starting in 2024, the company behind Hobonichi exhausted the existing supply of the original Tomoegawa paper and switched to using the new Tomoe River S paper by Sanzen in most of their planners. Since 2025, all Hobonichi planners use the new Tomoe River Paper S by Sanzen. It is resistant to bleeding and feathering of inks and paints, especially fountain pen inks and watercolors, though alcohol-based pens will bleed through.
The book is structured with a yearly overview section, monthly pages, various informational pages in the back, and most importantly, one full page dedicated to each day. Daily pages display the current moon phase, the day/week of the year, and short quotations from a variety of sources. The planner may be used in an optional cover with several useful features like card pockets, bookmarks, and a pen holder which doubles as a clasp. Covers are offered in a variety of materials and are sold in a different set of designs every year. The planner and covers are available in two sizes, the A6 'Original', and the larger A5 'Cousin'. Each Hobonichi Techo has a unique serial number printed on the final page, as a mark of its authenticity.

English-language version

In 2013, Hobonichi collaborated with designer brand ARTS&SCIENCE to release an English-language version of the planner for the first time. The English planner was originally available only in A6 size, differentiated by a black cover with gold stamped Japanese characters for “planner”,, and the ARTS&SCIENCE logo, as opposed to the cream cover of the Japanese version. The planner year 2023 was the first year Hobonichi began offering their traditional Japanese-only layout with the cream cover in an English printed version in addition to the existing ARTS&SCIENCE English planner. This English printed version is also now available for the A5 Cousin size and the Weeks and Weeks Mega planners. The Avec versions of the planners where the year is split between two books, remain Japanese only.

HON Planners

Starting with the 2023 planner year, Hobonichi began offering their A5 Cousin and A6 original planners in a HON version. These versions have thicker, cardboard covers with preprinted designs and the inclusion of 2 ribbon bookmarks and a pencil board. These HON planners are meant to be used as an all-in-one package, as opposed to the traditional planners which are meant to be paired with one of Hobonichi's covers to protect the book and provide pockets, a pen loop, and ribbon bookmarks.