Hobonichi 2026 Buying Guide

It's planner season, and Hobonichi's 2026 lineup is on its way! On this page, we've put together a guide on how to get one for yourself for the upcoming year.

Release Date: August 31, 10pm (ET)

Hobonichi's big yearly launch happens at the same time in all stores worldwide. In Japan, the time is 11am on September 1. For us, in Newton, Massachusetts, that translates to an online release at 10pm the night before.

Previews start August 21

Before the August 31 launch date, Hobonichi allows shops to put their collection online for preview. At 10pm on August 21, you'll be able to browse our Hobonichi Collection for 2026 items and start planning your order. Unfortunately, we cannot accept preorders of Hobonichi products before the 31st.

NOTE: All new Hobonichi items will appear as Out of Stock until launch time on August 31. This is only a website quirk; everything is still in stock and has not yet been put up for sale.

Will you have Hobonichi in your store?

Yes! We will have the same items available in-store as we have online. [Updated 8/29/25 Unfortunately, our Hobonichi shipment has been caught up in customs and will not arrive on 9/1. We will update this page, our homepage, and social media accounts as soon as we know more about when the products will be at the shop.]

Where can I buy Hobonichi?

Of course we'd love it if you purchase from us! We'll be giving out exclusive goodies like stickers and postcard to the first 250 orders after launch. Aside from shopping the Hobonichi Collection on our website, or picking up your favorites from our brick and mortar store in Newton, however, there are also many other options.

Orders can be placed through Hobonichi's official website at the link below. If you order direct from Hobonichi, the order will ship from Japan. This is the only way to get the yearly Uni-ball Jetstream pen and other exclusive giveaway items. A few products are also only sold through the official Japan store. This year, however, tariffs may apply to orders shipping to the US.
https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/

If you're not local and would like to see the products in person, you can also browse Hobonichi's Store Locator to find a shop near you. Partner Shops (like The Paper Mouse) will have a larger selection of goods than non-Partner Shops. Of note, only Partner Shops carry techo covers.

Should I stay up to order on launch day?

One long-standing Hobonichi tradition is the countdown to launch day. Many people camp out at stores and websites, waiting for their favorite designs to go on sale. Oftentimes, items will sell out on launch day. Is it worth staying up for the big event?

It's entirely up to you and your circumstances. Here are some of our recommendations for making your plans:

  • If you must have our exclusive Hobonichi Day stickers and a free postcard, stay up and order fast!
  • If you want to experience the excitement with a community, stay up and see what it's all about! Our staff will be on Instagram and Facebook (and maybe Tiktok? Let us know) at launch time to chat and answer any questions you may have. Many people also post their carts on social media, get on Discord chats, or otherwise treat the launch as an event to enjoy with friends.
  • If you have your heart set on a specific item and can't bear to miss out, launch day is your first chance at getting it. Although we can't guarantee restocks of anything, however, almost all items have been restocked at least once after launch in past years. Unless it's a matter of life or (stationery) death, it's not critical to stay up.
  • If you only want a new planner book or would be happy with many different designs, there's no need to stay up. There will be plenty of chances to pick up a techo at your convenience. We do recommend getting one before the start of the year, however; we do not usually restock dated planners after December and will only have on hand what happens to be left.

What happens if the thing I wanted sold out?

In past years, we've been able to restock most products at least once. If you miss it the first time around, keep an eye on your inbox and our social media accounts for restock notices! It's also worth checking other independent stores and the official Hobonichi store to see if they still have the item in stock.

Can I buy a cover without a planner book?

For the most part, not this year. In 2026, new covers will come bundled with planner books. They will be sold this way by Hobonichi Japan, and stores cannot decide to separate them. Planner books, however, can be purchased without a cover.

A couple exceptions to the rule:

  • Covers we have left in stock from 2025 will be sold without a book, as they were at release.
  • Weeks covers are sold on their own. They do not come with a Weeks planner.

Why are prices so much higher in your store than the Japan store?

Retail prices are set by the manufacturer and we do our best to follow them. These minimum US retail prices are already quite a bit higher than the prices in Japan. However, manufacturer-set prices also do not take into account increased tariff and shipping fees which we, the retailer, must absorb. There is still much uncertainty around what the fees will turn out to be, so our pricing may need to change in the future. We will do our best to keep prices as low as we can. We also hope that the in-store experience and little extras we include in online orders help make up for some of that price difference.

Are you going to carry...

We're carrying a bigger selection this year than last year and hope to have what you're looking for! However, some popular items in this year's release are exclusive to Hobonichi's Japan store, or are otherwise unavailable to us. Here are some of the items we're frequently asked about. Please don't hesitate to email or DM us about others.

Japan exclusives that we and other international shops cannot carry:

  • Moomins collection
  • Junji Ito - Tomie collection
  • Drawer Pouches in sizes Pocket, Large, and Áne

Things we will be carrying:

  • One Piece collection (launches October 1)
  • Uni-ball Tsuki no Iro Hobonichi Colors pens (launches October 1)
  • Drawer Pouches in size Small, in non-exclusive designs
  • Most of the regular lineup

Still curious about Hobonichi?

At the links below, you can:

Questions for our staff?

You can reach us by email at hello@thepapermouse.com!