After almost five months with this journal/planner/notebook, it's past time to provide my thoughts on it. I've been using my Hobonichi since January, which has given me nearly five months to figure out whether or not this product is something that is going to "stick". So far, the answer is a resounding, "Hell yes!"
What is the Hobonichi Techo?
Honestly, the Hobonichi kind of defies explanation. It's sold and marketed as a planner, and many people use it for that purpose, but the pages aren't set up for any particular system. For example, the pages are graph-lined, which makes it very easy to break each page down into a "daily schedule" in whatever increments you so desire, but you're not locked in to a specific planner system. The only predetermined "numbering" is the date at the top of each page and a single "12" in the margin halfway down the page. Many people, myself included, don't use the Hobonichi as a true planner at all. The notebook contains 365+ pages of high-quality, fountain-pen friendly Tomoe River paper that you can use however you please.
The Hobonichi contains the ultra-thin, super smooth Tomoe River paper.
The A6-size Hobonichi Techo (in cover) compared to the A5 Leuchtturm 1917. I've found this journal to be the perfect size to carry around, and the fact that it holds 365+ pages in such a compact format is incredible. That's the beauty of Tomoe River paper!
How Do I Use My Hobonichi Techo?
The Hobonichi is marketed as being "infinitely customizable," and I've taken full advantage. How I use this hybrid journal/planner/notebook changes from day to day. Some days, I will use it as a journal, simply recapping the day: what I did at work, good things that happened to me, gratitude items, etc. Other days, I'll use it for a version of morning pages, brain-dumping everything running through my head before I leave for work in the morning (or, sometimes, before I go to bed at night). Less frequently, I'll use the Hobonichi as a planner of sorts, but for specific things. If I'm planning a busy week of blog posts, for instance, I'll use a couple lines of each day to note a reminder of the writing project I'm supposed to be working on to keep myself on track.
Last Wednesday was a particularly uneventful day, so I used it to jot down thoughts prior to starting a draft of this review.
The Hobonichi also contains over a year's worth of "monthly" pages at the front. I use them for ink swabs to document what pens I have inked up with with which colors.
On days when you don't necessarily have something to write about, or simply need some inspiration to power through, the Hobonichi provides a daily quotation. Some translate to English better than others.
Where To Buy the Hobonichi Techo?
I purchased my Hobonichi early, directly from Japan, because I wanted my journal in hand as early as possible to start the year off right. The English version of the website is fairly easy to navigate, and shipping is relatively quick and easy. I believe it took the journal about a week to reach me here in Tennessee, USA, and I was able to add on a navy blue journal cover for minimal cost. All in, given the exchange rate at the time, I believe I spent around $50. (One Note: on the Japanese website, the English language version of the Hobonichi Techo is called the Hobonichi Planner. The "Hobonichi Techo" is the Japanese version.)
Takeaways
The Hobonich is a unique, highly versatile stationery item that I'd place in a category unto itself: neither a true planner, notebook, or journal--it's, well, the Hobonichi. I'll definitely order another one next year, based on my experience to date. It's a rare thing for me to stick with daily journaling for nearly five months, and what's kept me on track is the fact that the Hobonichi is not intimidating. There's a relatively small blank page for each day, and it doesn't take much effort to jot down a few things. If this product interests you at all, the barrier to entry is fairly low (even if you have to order from Japan), and there are so many potential uses for the book that it's worth a shot even if you're not a traditional "planner person."
Further Reading
For some other excellent pieces on how people use their Hobonichi Techos, check out reviews from Susan Pigott over at the Pen Addict, the Newsprint, and Gourmet Pens. There's also the Hobonichi Love Tumblr blog, written by the English translator of the original Japanese version.