Having just returned from a two week trip to Tokyo, I am brimming with excitement over Japan’s AMAZING art supply stores. Before I left, I did a quick study of my studio to see which supplies were running low (none were) in order to justify buying more necessary (Ummm, not necessary) pens, papers, and paints.

Let’s just say that I was SHOCKED at how many of my FAVORITE Art Supplies originate in Japan!

Sakura Gelly Roll Pens
Sakura MICRON Liner Pens
POSCA Pens
Pentel Pens
Kansai Watercolor Paints
Copic Markers
Tombow Markers, Pens, and Mechanical Pencils/Erasers
Holbein Paints - Gouache, Acrylic, Watercolor
Pentel Brush Pens

Art Supplies Made in Japan: Tombow Markers, Posca Pens, Gelly Roll Pens, Copic Markers, Sakura Gel Pens, Pentel Pens, Pilot Pens, Washi Tape, Sakura Micron Pens

Holbein Gouache and Acryla Paints, Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Paint Set, Pentel Brush Pen, Copic Liner

JOURNALING SUPPLIES

Midori Notebooks and Paper, Planners
Hobonichi Planners
Washi Tape
Traveler’s Factory Journals (This will be a different post)
Stalogy Notebooks
Pilot Fountain Pens
Sailor Ink

Traveler’s Factory Journals, Midori Notebooks, Stalogy Journal, Pilot Metropolitan, Falcon, and Kakuno Fountain Pens, Washi Tape, Hobonichi Planner

If you want to watch a tiny bit about Japanese Art Supplies - check out my YouTube video HERE.

But, let’s get to the REAL reason for this post…the art stores in Tokyo. I was on a mission to get to as many as I could while there, and surprised myself with visiting six.

ITOYA

This elegant art store is located near sophisticated shops like Tiffany & Co and Bulgari, but has a cute Disney themed drink cafe on the first level. Like the next two art stores, Itoya has multiple floors (somewhere around 8-9) filled with every kind of stationery product like notepapers, cards, stamps, inks, seals, papers, pens, paints, fountain pens, and much, much more. Itoya was my top favorite *everything art supply store because it is the most beautiful. Every display is artfully arranged and makes you pretty much want to buy everything! The brands represented are quality names you know and trust, and the prices are no more than you would expect. I spent more time here than in any of the other stores, and would happily have gone back if I had more time!

SEKAIDO

You can’t visit Tokyo without heading to Shinjuku - where all the young locals hang out, music booms from speakers, and food smells entice you inside…and where Tokyo’s most famous art store is located. This was the first art store I went in, and the first thing that confronted me were the rows and rows of pens. I’ve never seen so many kinds of pens all in one place together. It was like a pen convention or Super Bowl of pens! So much in fact that it took me 25 minutes to look at them, after which my son told me there are 7 more floors to explore and they wandered off and left me to myself for another hour. Because there was so much eye candy, I ended up feeling lopsided - I spent more time on the first few levels and had to run through the rest of the floors, panting, sweating, and wishing I had better managed my time there. The section that I got stuck on were the books. Their art book selection was fabulous and I brought two home.

TOKYO HANDS

This quirky local standout is noteworthy for packing some interesting supplies into a small floor space on multiple levels. They have Copic markers and lots of Hobonichi planners, as well as some notebook brands like Stalogy and Midori. They have a great sticker selection, as well as tons of pens, and they have miniature kits to create for those who like dollhouse type projects.

Stalogy Journal, Midori Journals, Pentel Pens, Ink Refills, Colored Lead and Mono Erasers

PIGMENT

Pigment isn’t a store, it’s a pilgrimage. And my Fitbit proves it. The day I visited I walked up 77 flights of stairs and 7.5 miles - mostly due to walking to Itoya first followed by a very long Subway detour which took me to where I needed to board a train out toward the Handea airport Tokyo Bay area. When I finally arrived I was greeted by a warm breeze off the water, which heightened the feeling of being somewhere special. I circled the store, went in, and immediately felt in awe. Hundreds of gorgeous bottles of colored pigments, arranged in color families lined the back wall. To the left were framed shadow boxes with various types of gum arabic, and another wall showcased Japanese paint brushes. I heard myself talking in hushed tones, and the gentleman who helped me was equal in volume. Wearing white gloves, he carefully removed the bottle with the color I asked for, and placed them together in a wood box for me to examine. It took me some time to decide, and he never rushed me - although I was internally rushing myself! After selecting six fine medium toned colors, I asked for a crowning color - a rusty red. Bringing it down from its high perch while using a ladder, he turned the bottle around, then told me the entire bottle had already been purchased. Alas, my collection would not be completed. I searched and searched for another to take its place, but none fit, so I decided I would only bring home 6 colors. He weighed the powders and slipped them into tiny bags, I paid, and was off. But, before I left, I timidly asked if I could take a photo, which he kindly obliged. You see, there was a sign stating no photography allowed, so I was elated to be able to take this single photo of the 100s of bottles of paint on the wall (plus the one of my purchase). Lest my writing fail me, Pigment was my absolute favorite art destination. Why? There’s something inside every artist - or at least inside me - that wants to create my very own unique color palette to paint with. And now I have it (though I was wishing I had purchased about 20 more colors). So if you go to Tokyo, please go to Pigment. They open at 11 am, and you won’t regret going.

Pigments I selected from Pigment Store in Tokyo

LOFT

Though technically not an art store, Loft does sell many artsy supplies like washi tape with cute kawaii characters like Miffy and Sanrio figures, journals, pens, stickers, and planners - to name a few. Some Loft stores are smaller than others, so try and find one with several floors, like the one in Kichijoji. They have a decent selection of pens, journals, paper pads, and a host of other cute things like Bento boxes - which aren’t art supplies but could be used to hold your art stuff in your bag.

DAISO

This list wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention Daiso - Japan’s version of a dollar store, only with cuter stuff. You can find lots of different notebooks for school or note taking, stickers, zipper pouches, markers and pens, craft supplies, stamps, and much more - all for crazy cheap prices! If you have a project and want to put it together fast, Daiso is the place to go.

Thanks for reading - I appreciate you all and hope that my words will bring you a little value and inspiration to go about your day. My next post will either be about Japanese Bookstores or Traveler’s Factory and keeping a travel journal of my trip. Until then,

My TOP 4 (+2) ART STORES in TOKYO + 10 FAV Art Supplies that Come From Japan