My Favourite Finds from a Japanese Stationery Shop and How to Store Them

I’ll admit it now: I am absolutely that person who will spend an hour in a Japanese stationery shop, marvelling at pens, notebooks, and washi tape. There’s something so satisfying about the layout, the colours, the packaging – and the sheer joy of it all. Whether it was Loft in Tokyo, Tokyu Hands, or a tiny independent paper shop in Kyoto, I was completely smitten.

But I also had to keep myself in check. As someone who talks about decluttering for a living, I couldn’t just hoard all the cute pens and sticky notes (tempting as it was). Instead, I made a rule: if I’m bringing something lovely home, it has to be used and stored properly. Otherwise, it becomes clutter – no matter how beautiful it is.

So, here’s what I bought, how I chose my items mindfully, and what I recommend when it comes to storing your own stationery collection without letting it take over.

The Japanese stationery magic

There’s something about Japanese stationery that just feels… elevated. The pens write smoother. The notebooks have the perfect weight of paper. The design is considered down to the tiniest detail. Even a paperclip feels special.

But that’s also the danger. Because everything looks lovely, it’s easy to justify buying loads of it. “It’s just a tiny pen,” you tell yourself – until you’ve got a suitcase full of them.

What I learnt while browsing these shops is that Japanese consumers don’t just buy things because they’re cute – they buy them because they work well. There’s a practicality behind the prettiness. And that was a reminder to me: we don’t need five notebooks that do the same thing. We just need the one that works best for us.

How I chose what to bring home

I had to be intentional – otherwise I’d have brought home enough supplies to start my own stationery shop in Dubai. So I gave myself a few guidelines:

• Only buy items I could see myself using in the next two months

• Choose multi-functional items (like pens with multiple ink colours)

• Avoid anything too bulky or gimmicky

• Pick colours and designs that worked with my existing space

This approach helped me stay grounded. I ended up with a few gel pens, a slim notebook, some washi tape, a travel-sized scissors, and a tiny pencil case that made me smile every time I saw it. All things I knew I’d use – and had a proper place for.

Where most people go wrong with stationery

Here’s what I often see in clients’ homes: drawers full of mismatched pens (half of them dry), piles of notebooks with only two pages used, and random sticky notes gathering dust. Sound familiar?

The stationery isn’t the issue – it’s the way we treat it. We buy things on impulse, don’t assign them a home, and then forget about them.

That’s why, whether you’re buying Japanese stationery or picking up bits from your local supermarket, the key is intentional storage.

How to store stationery the Japanese-inspired way

1. Give everything a defined home

Even small items deserve their place. Use drawer dividers, small containers or organisers to sort items by category – pens with pens, tape with tape, notebooks stacked neatly.

One of my favourite tricks from Japanese homes is the use of small trays inside drawers. It’s so simple, but it means everything is contained and easy to find.

2. Store vertically when possible

In Japan, even stationery is often stored upright – not just to save space but to make everything visible. You can do this with pen pots, upright folders for notebooks, or magazine files for paper.

If you’ve got a lot of notebooks or paper items, consider a document stand so you can flick through easily without creating messy piles.

3. Limit your daily supply

I keep just a handful of pens and essentials on my desk. The rest are stored in a drawer nearby. That way, I’m not distracted by choice, and the surface stays tidy.

Think of it like a stationery capsule – rotate items every so often if you like, but don’t overload your workspace.

4. Use beautiful tools that inspire use

This is where Japanese design shines. A lovely notebook or pen makes you want to use it. When your items feel good to use, you’re more likely to keep them organised – because you care about them.

So if you’re feeling uninspired by your current desk setup, swap in one or two beautiful pieces you love. It can spark a whole new relationship with your workspace.

A gentle decluttering prompt

If you’ve got a drawer or cupboard full of unused stationery, now’s the time to review it. Don’t empty it all out at once – just open the drawer and have a quick look.

• Are there dried-out pens you can bin?

• Notebooks you haven’t touched in years?

• Items you don’t even remember buying?

Let those go. Donate the usable bits if you can. Then organise the rest by category and give them a dedicated home. A calm, tidy stationery drawer really is one of life’s little joys.

Final thoughts

Japanese stationery is special because it’s both beautiful and practical. It’s a reminder that our everyday tools can be joyful – but only if we respect them. That means buying intentionally, storing properly, and not letting even the tiniest bits become clutter.

So whether you’re planning a stationery haul or just tidying up your existing stash, take a page out of the Japanese book: keep what works, store it beautifully, and enjoy every pen stroke.