Distinguishing Hobonichi Models: An Overview of Hobonichi Notebooks and Their Differences
The Hobonichi Techo planner, a popular organiser among productivity enthusiasts and art lovers alike, comes in five distinct varieties: the English Planner (A6), Original A6, Cousin (A5), Weeks, and Weeks Mega. Each type offers unique features tailored to different needs and preferences.
The English Planner (A6) is the smallest planner, with a size of approximately 105x148mm. It is designed for English speakers and features a Monday-start calendar week, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer a traditional weekly format. The planner does not specify the exact number of pages for 2025, but it is generally known for its compact size, making it portable and easy to carry.
The Original A6, similar in size to the English Planner, is the most common version. It is designed for all-day notes and also follows a Monday-start week. Unlike the English Planner, it is available in Japanese and features a colourful, user-friendly design.
The Cousin (A5) is the largest planner, offering considerably more writing space compared to the compact A6 planners. It comes in both Japanese and English versions. The English edition boasts a significant page count of 544 pages, in contrast to the Japanese edition's 224 pages. This larger size allows for more space for notes, calendars, quotes, and additional features.
The Weeks planner, while the size is not explicitly detailed, is a slim long planner. It focuses on a weekly layout, designed for quick planning and lighter portability compared to the Cousin or A6 planners. The Weeks Mega version, similar in design but thicker, includes extra pages for additional notes and planning, expanding from 240 to 384 pages.
All Hobonichi planners use the thin, light Tomoe River paper, which is ideal for fountain pens and resists bleeding. The Cousin, in particular, uses stitch-binding with this paper, ensuring durability and a high-quality writing experience.
The Weeks planner has a unique vertical design, with a month on two pages and a weekly format with a notes page opposite. It also includes blank graph paper in the back. On the other hand, the English Planner does not have daily pages, only note pages, while the standard month view in all Hobonichi books, except for the Weeks, has white paper.
Various covers are available for the Hobonichi books, including official and unofficial options. The Hobonichi covers have a pleather feel and gold emboss that changes each year, adding a touch of elegance to the planners.
In addition to the planners themselves, various add-ons like notebooks, writing boards, and stencils are also available to expand or improve the Hobonichi planner. These accessories can help users tailor their planner to their specific needs, whether for work, art journaling, or a gratitude journal.
The Hobonichi brand is based in Japan and has been producing its Techo books since 2002. The versatility and quality of the Hobonichi planners have made them a favourite among stationery enthusiasts worldwide.
When choosing a Hobonichi planner, consider how you intend to use it. Whether you prefer a daily or weekly format, a larger or smaller size, or a planner with more pages for notes and planning, Hobonichi offers a variety of options to suit every need.
- The Hobonichi brand, known for its popular Techo planners, extends beyond just organizers to include a range of accessories such as notebooks, writing boards, and stencils, catering to various needs like work, art journaling, or a gratitude journal.
- For English speakers, the English Planner (A6) by Hobonichi is an ideal choice, featuring a Monday-start calendar week and compact size, perfect for a traditional weekly format and easy portability.
- The Cousin (A5) planner, the largest among Hobonichi's offerings, boasts a significant page count of 544 pages, making it an excellent choice for those who need more space for notes, calendars, quotes, and additional features in their lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, or book recordings, as well as entertainment planning.
