Hobonichi Notebook lined A5

The Hobonichi Lined Notebook A5 is a full-format notebook with 288 pages made from Tomoe River paper – 52 g/m², acid-free, with thread binding that allows the book to lie completely flat. What sets it apart from an ordinary lined notebook: the line grid was developed based on design psychology insights and patented in 2020. At just 10 mm spine thickness, it remains compact enough to fit into a Hobonichi Techo Cousin cover – and can be combined with the Hobonichi Techo Avec.

Features

• Tomoe River paper, 52 g/m²: Despite its low grammage, it offers high opacity – ink traces from the reverse side barely show through. The smooth, slightly cream-coloured surface responds to fountain pens with even ink flow and displays sheen effects and shading with particular clarity. Pencil and oil-based ballpoint ink also glide cleanly across it.
• Patented line design (2020): The horizontal lines are interrupted at regular intervals by short vertical strokes, optically creating a subtle grid – yet the eye still perceives them as straight lines. Line height: 6 mm. The result is a page grid that remains easy on the eyes even during long writing sessions.
• Thread binding, opens completely flat: The book lies on your desk without resistance – both sides of a spread are fully usable, even close to the spine. No creasing, no readjustment needed.
• 288 pages with 10 mm spine thickness: Possible because Tomoe River paper builds minimal volume even with high page counts. The book remains slim and fits perfectly into Hobonichi Techo covers in A5 Cousin size.
• Acid-free paper: Ink and pencil won't yellow due to paper ageing – the notebook is archival-quality.

Use & Tips

• Fountain pen: Tomoe River paper is fountain pen-friendly, but not all inks dry at the same speed. Aqueous fountain pen inks, particularly those from heavy-writing nibs or flex nibs with high ink output, need a bit longer to dry. We recommend testing a new ink on one of the back pages before regular use.
• Calligraphy and lettering: The smooth surface guides stub nibs cleanly and without catching. Aqueous calligraphy ink shows distinct colour variations and sheen on Tomoe River paper – a particularly expressive combination for decorative writing.
• Students and frequent writers: The 6 mm line grid is tight enough for compact note-taking, and the eye-friendly design keeps visual fatigue low during extended writing sessions.
• Combination with the Hobonichi Techo Avec: This notebook shares the same external dimensions as the Avec and fits in the same cover – ideal as a separate notebook alongside your planner.
• Archive: For those who keep notebooks long-term, acid-free paper is a real advantage: your writing remains stable over the years without fading or yellowing.

For Paper Enthusiasts

The line grid of the Hobonichi Lined Notebook was developed by Prof. Haruo Hibino and his research team at the BB STONE Design Psychology Unit, Inc. – a spin-out from Chiba University's Faculty of Engineering. The horizontal lines are rhythmically interrupted by short vertical strokes; through a perceptual psychology optical effect, the brain still reads them as continuous straight lines. The pattern has been patented since 2020. Tomoe River paper displays particularly pronounced reflection effects with sheen-pigmented fountain pen inks (e.g. shimmer green or gold inks) – a reason why this paper holds a cult status within the fountain pen community.

Technical Specifications