Hobonichi 2026 FAQ

Curious about the popular Hobonichi planners? On this page, we've put together a guide on how to get one for yourself for the upcoming year, and updates on the status of Hobonichi restocks and orders at our shop.

Hobonichi status updates

4/21/26: Our full year 2026 Hobonichi planners are sold out, and we will not be restocking. There will, however, be a small batch of half-year Avec arriving before June.

The next full restock of Hobonichi planners and new covers will be their yearly release on August 31. There will be planner books that start on January 1, 2027 in A5 Cousin, A6 Original, and Weeks sizes.

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FAQs

What is Hobonichi?

The Hobonichi Techo is a Japanese planner brand created in 2001 by writer, musician, game designer, and actor Shigesato Itoi. The planner was created to be a "Life Book," a versatile companion that could be used in any way as a record of one's daily life. Hobonichi users often use their books as planners, journals, commonplace books, sketchbooks, places to collect ideas, and more.

Hobonichi books come in three sizes: the A6 Original, A5 Cousin, and a tall and thin Weeks. They're made with ultra thin yet strong Tomoe River paper that allow the books to be portable despite having a full year's worth of pages. The Original and Cousin each have one-page-a-day designs, while the Weeks has a vertical weekly design.

In addition to the thoughtfully designed interior, Hobonichi is also known for their yearly launch of new planner covers and accessories. Cover designs are made in collaboration with artists and other creatives and are unique each year. The big reveal of each year's designs happens at the end of August.

Release Date: August 31, 10pm (ET)

Hobonichi's big yearly launch for January start planners 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.

There is also a second release in February of planners that start on April 1, the beginning of Japan's academic and fiscal year.

Previews start August 21

Before the August 31 launch date, Hobonichi allows shops to put their collection online for preview. Approximately ten days before the launch date, Hobonichi will begin previewing designs on their website and social media accounts. We'll also put the upcoming year's products up for preview on our website, where you can browse and start planning your purchase. 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.

Where can I buy Hobonichi?

Of course we'd love it if you purchase from us! 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 giveaways, 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.

Still curious about Hobonichi?

At the links below, you can:

Questions for our staff?

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