The 2015 Hobonichi Planner Store Just Launched!

[heath]

You can get the details here: http://penpaperinkletter.com/2015-hobonichi-planner-store-just-launched/

They've made some changes and the store isn't taking orders until August 31st, 7 PM PDT but you can see all the updates from last years version and the new covers.

[Silverbreeze]

Anyone use this years?
How does the paper hold up to western nibs and ink?

[Silverbreeze]

For those who may be interested while the full set is expensive. The annual planner refill is the $31 +sh if I read and did math right.


So planner refill is the about the price of Rhodia Webbie

[tandaina]

I have this year's and love it. Not sure if I will use the same cover again or go for one of the cheaper leather ones this year. But I adore mine.

[heath]

Anyone use this years?
How does the paper hold up to western nibs and ink?

I use all of my fountain pens in it from time to time for notes or planning and they have all done fine. Some show-through on wet pens but no bleeding or feathering and it's not been bad enough I couldn't use both sides. I'll try to post a picture when I can.

[tandaina]

The paper is Tamoe River. It is the best paper made period. People water color on it, no problem. My biggest wettest fountain pens and inks it handles beautifully. This is not paper made for fine dry nibs. I swear it was made for brush pens. It is so thin you will see the shadow of writing drawing etc through it, but nothing has ever bled through or feathered. I am so spoiled by Tamoe River I had to buy a hardback journal of it because I can't stand anything else now. Be warned, the paper is magic.

Some have reported long dry times with it, I have not experienced that and I use all italic nibs and flex nibs. But be aware that some inks may take forever to dry from what I've heard. Again, I havnt had an issue.

[heath]

For those who may be interested while the full set is expensive. The annual planner refill is the $31 +sh if I read and did math right.


So planner refill is the about the price of Rhodia Webbie

There's also a UK shop that is selling it, I believe with free UK shipping, so you might want to check that out too if you are in the UK. Some info in another of my posts here: http://penpaperinkletter.com/looking-forward-2015-hobonichi-techo-looking-back-2014/

[Silverbreeze]

I use tomoe River paper but I know there are two classes of it. Am I converting wrong is the planner/Cover combo over $300 this year

[mtnbiker62]

I use tomoe River paper but I know there are two classes of it. Am I converting wrong is the planner/Cover combo over $300 this year

Yes, you are converting wrong unless you are sourcing one of the handmade, limited covers. The A6 planner + TS Leather Cover (the one I used this year...very nice) is approximately $86.50 + shipping.

[mtnbiker62]

My dilemma this year is do I stay with the A6 size or go for the A5 size. I love my planner, but I wish it were a little bigger. The "Cousin" might be the way to go for me this year. If I do decide to go with the A5 size, I am going to have an A6 TS Leather cover for sale! :)

[Silverbreeze]

Ohhhh I see it's the zipper cover that's $300

Thanks

[tandaina]

The covers vary *wildly* in price. The cover I got last year is cloth (sorta shiny) and with the planner came to $75. There are a number in that combo range every year. There are limited edition covers that can soar into multiple hundreds of dollars, avoid those, stick with the ones that are in the 1k-2k yen range and you will be good. (Those are the basic cloth covers)

One of the reasons this planner/journal works for me and others never did is the cover. It has pockets everywhere, including credit card/ID pockets. So it is both my wallet and my journal cover. Which means it goes with me everywhere. Everywhere. And that makes it work. You could use it without the cover, make your own, etc, some folks have used these in the smaller Midori covers, the possibilities are endless. But for me the key is the cover has to double as my wallet so I can't leave home without my Hobonichi, that's what makes it work.

[reprieve]

I love my Hobonichi. I've been using it every day since December 1 last year.

The Tomoe River paper is wonderful. Even wet double broad nibs don't bleed through. There is a light shadow on the other side of the page, but it's not dark enough to be distracting. Nothing feathers. The paper allows inks to shade and sheen beautifully. Tomoe River paper truly does bring out the best in every single ink. If you're using a wet ink with a broader nib, it can take a while to dry, but I keep a 4x6 index card in between the pages to serve as a blotter so dry times aren't actually problematic for me.

I'll definitely be ordering the 2015 version. I'm still contemplating whether or not to get a new cover. I was happy with the one I got last year but the new zipped covers really appeal to me since I could put cards and scraps of paper inside without worrying about them falling out. The new leather zipped covers are stunning but extraordinarily expensive.

[Silverbreeze]

Mine is ordered as is one of the simpler covers

[betsypreston]

I just put the English planner and a cover into my cart. 34000 yen, or so. And according to the interweb, that converts to over $300. YIKES! I am abandoning my cart and looking for another option! I'm not paying $300!!!!



I use tomoe River paper but I know there are two classes of it. Am I converting wrong is the planner/Cover combo over $300 this year

[betsypreston]

Okaaaay...

All of the "English" notebooks seemed to come with a very expensive leather zipper cover. I bought a japanese version instead with a cheaper leather snap cover. Total, about $101, plus about $5 shipping.

Maybe this will seem like a mistake tomorrow in the light of day, but for now, I'm happy to be finally trying a Hobonichi!


I just put the English planner and a cover into my cart. 34000 yen, or so. And according to the interweb, that converts to over $300. YIKES! I am abandoning my cart and looking for another option! I'm not paying $300!!!!



I use tomoe River paper but I know there are two classes of it. Am I converting wrong is the planner/Cover combo over $300 this year

[betsypreston]

Hahaha. Okay I was DUMB.

Look at the ENGLISH planners.

Then check out the "Original" covers, not the "English" covers. There are cheaper options, and they appear to be the same size as the expensive English covers.

I ended up with a Japanese journal book and a leather snap cover from the same Japanese section. The journal is in Japanese, but that's probably okay since I do NOT plan on using it as a journal - I will be ignoring the dates. I will miss the quotes, since I don't read Japanese. But I'll have a nice tomoe river paper journal. That was kinda the point. I also threw in a perforated notebook and a stencil (not included in my $106 price). Not sure if the notebook will also fit inside the cover with the journal, or what paper exactly it contains, but it was inexpensive so I took my chances.

What has anyone else ordered?

[migo984]

I was going to wait, like I have done in previous years, but the site was strangely quiet so I went ahead and ordered my 2015 A6 Planner in English. I'm not sure I like some of the changes in format to the last 2 years but they're minor. I already have 2 covers but I ordered another (navy leather). Plus a few more accessories, although I already have the pen clip, stencils, pencil board and other bits & pieces. I also ordered the weekly calendar as I use my Planner for notes and other scribbles and I thought it would be good to have a small dedicated diary. It fits in the Hobo cover and it's Tomoe River paper too. Good value at 540Y

I might also order one of the new silicon covers when they're available at the start of October.

For UK buyers, even factoring in the shipping and admin charge, it is still cheaper to buy your planner from Japan than from The Journal Shop in London! It is very easy to order from the Hobonichi online store.

[Silverbreeze]

I was going to wait, like I have done in previous years, but the site was strangely quiet so I went ahead and ordered my 2015 A6 Planner in English. I'm not sure I like some of the changes in format to the last 2 years but they're minor. I already have 2 covers but I ordered another (navy leather). Plus a few more accessories, although I already have the pen clip, stencils, pencil board and other bits & pieces. I also ordered the weekly calendar as I use my Planner for notes and other scribbles and I thought it would be good to have a small dedicated diary. It fits in the Hobo cover and it's Tomoe River paper too. Good value at 540Y

I might also order one of the new silicon covers when they're available at the start of October.

For UK buyers, even factoring in the shipping and admin charge, it is still cheaper to buy your planner from Japan than from The Journal Shop in London! It is very easy to order from the Hobonichi online store.

I may order a silicone cover and more accessories in October too

[mtnbiker62]

I ended up sticking with the A6 size in English, so I could reuse my TS leather cover from last year. It's still in excellent condition, despite banging around in my backpack for almost a year. I briefly considered buying the A5 size planner (I do speak a little Japanese), but the TS leather cover in that size was a little pricey for me.

[Silverbreeze]

Hahaha. Okay I was DUMB.

Look at the ENGLISH planners.

Then check out the "Original" covers, not the "English" covers. There are cheaper options, and they appear to be the same size as the expensive English covers.

I ended up with a Japanese journal book and a leather snap cover from the same Japanese section. The journal is in Japanese, but that's probably okay since I do NOT plan on using it as a journal - I will be ignoring the dates. I will miss the quotes, since I don't read Japanese. But I'll have a nice tomoe river paper journal. That was kinda the point. I also threw in a perforated notebook and a stencil (not included in my $106 price). Not sure if the notebook will also fit inside the cover with the journal, or what paper exactly it contains, but it was inexpensive so I took my chances.

What has anyone else ordered?

Betsy-

I am guessing Dave's Seven Seas Writer is too large for your needs (A5)?
And Jay's Paperforfountainpens blank bound books are also not quite what you need?


Tom

[tandaina]

There are tons of cheap options including some very cheap silicone. And once you buy a cover you never need buy a other unless you want to... I just got a new cover (fired of blue) and planner for about $40 before shipping.

[betsypreston]

Good suggestions! I have been looking at the Seven Seas Writer, but the PaperForFountainPens books are new to me. Maybe it's time to give them a try!



Hahaha. Okay I was DUMB.

Look at the ENGLISH planners.

Then check out the "Original" covers, not the "English" covers. There are cheaper options, and they appear to be the same size as the expensive English covers.

I ended up with a Japanese journal book and a leather snap cover from the same Japanese section. The journal is in Japanese, but that's probably okay since I do NOT plan on using it as a journal - I will be ignoring the dates. I will miss the quotes, since I don't read Japanese. But I'll have a nice tomoe river paper journal. That was kinda the point. I also threw in a perforated notebook and a stencil (not included in my $106 price). Not sure if the notebook will also fit inside the cover with the journal, or what paper exactly it contains, but it was inexpensive so I took my chances.

What has anyone else ordered?

Betsy-

I am guessing Dave's Seven Seas Writer is too large for your needs (A5)?
And Jay's Paperforfountainpens blank bound books are also not quite what you need?


Tom

[Silverbreeze]

I use them for diffrient needs so not sure which fits your need better

I think it maybe worth it for you to try a factory seconds writer from Dave if lined paper is what you use most.

Just a thought, hopefully helpful
TR paper is not as rare as it was before :-)


Good suggestions! I have been looking at the Seven Seas Writer, but the PaperForFountainPens books are new to me. Maybe it's time to give them a try!