It was the tail end of spring, and the day was turning out to be surprisingly warm when I dragged my insanely supportive family to Kuramae Station to visit Kakimori Tokyo. Outside, there were benches thoughtfully placed just outside the storefront. It’s a spot that’s perfect for companions who prefer to relax in the shade while the stationery-obsessed among us take our sweet time shopping.
Kakimori Tokyo is simply yet beautifully laid out, housing its main pen, ink, and stationery shop on the ground floor, while Inkstand by Kakimori occupies the cozy mezzanine level.
Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by a display of Kakimori’s own fountain pens and artisanal inks lining the left shelf. The variety of choices is enough to make any pen and ink lover feel a slight sense of overwhelm.
At the center of the showroom floor is the main attraction: the custom notebook binding station. They also feature a dedicated testing table where you can try out their various inks and unique dip pens.
Quick Tip: Don’t rush past the testing station. Trying out the custom nibs on premium paper is half the fun of visiting Kakimori.
I had heard a lot about the Kakimori brass and aluminium dip pens with their uniquely shaped nibs, so I was excited to finally test them in person. They have a substantial weight in the hand and are good for ink swatching or drawing. However, from a calligrapher’s perspective, I found they might not be my first choice for cursive or extended writing sessions.
Of course, the main focus of the Kakimori Tokyo shop experience is their custom-made notebooks. The concept is simple: you select every part, from the front and back covers to the closure details and the paper, and they assemble it for you on the spot. Their shelves are stocked with a range of paper stocks from popular brands, which means you will be getting a premium notebook in the end.
Moving toward the back of the shop, the selection expands to include an array of external pen brands, alongside a dedicated glass showcase displaying high-end writing instruments and glass pens.
I took the narrow staircase up to the mezzanine level to take a peek inside Inkstand, the dedicated space where visitors can book a workshop to mix and create their own custom ink blends. A few people were in the middle of a blending session during my visit, and because photos are restricted on this level, I headed straight to the edge of the mezzanine. The view of the ground floor layout from above is super nice and worth the climb.
I headed back downstairs to finalize my haul of pens and inks. To my surprise, I was also gifted a free 15th anniversary notebook with my purchase! Notebooks are truly my jam, so leaving with an exclusive one made the visit even more memorable (but this is also the point where I can almost hear my husband saying that I never use the notebooks I collect. Like, ever. But still).
Is Kakimori worth visiting? My visit to Kakimori Tokyo was everything I hoped it would be. If you are planning a trip, the surrounding neighborhood of Kuramae is well worth exploring. It is a quiet, artisanal district away from the usual hustle and bustle of major Tokyo hubs, which makes it perfect for catching your breath, enjoying a slow afternoon, and diving deep into the world of fine stationery.
Want to see the shop in action? Watch the video of my visit on TikTok!
@happyhandsproj 📍 Kakimori, Tokyo On a sunny afternoon in Tokyo, my family and I made the short walk from Kuramae Station to Kakimori, a stationery lover’s dream tucked away in the neighborhood. The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by shelves lined with fountain pens, rollerballs, inks, and stationery. Across the shop were displays of different paper options for those looking to customize their own notebooks. Of course, I had to try Kakimori’s signature dip pens. However, I found the nib a little too thick for writing. Upstairs, I visited Inkstand, where one can create their own custom ink blends. It was a fun space to explore, and the view overlooking the shop below was a nice bonus. I left with a couple of fountain pens and inks that I’m excited to share in my next post! ✒️ #kakimori #kakimoritokyo #inkstandbykakimori #inkstand #tokyo
♬ original sound – Happy Hands Project – Happy Hands Project
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