Type: Custom Notebook & Stationery Boutique City: Tokyo Neighborhood: Kuramae, Taito-ku (East Tokyo — 10 min walk from Asakusa) Address (EN): 4-20-12 Kuramae, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0051 Address (JP): 〒111-0051 東京都台東区蔵前4-20-12 Website: https://kakimori.com Hours: 11:00 AM–7:00 PM daily (closed Tue) Entry: Free Who It’s For: Jeannette (primary)
What It Is
Kakimori is a small, acclaimed stationery shop that lets you build a custom notebook on the spot — choose the cover, inner paper type, binding rings, and clasp, and staff assemble it in front of you in about 15 minutes. Also sells their own line of Kakimori inks (beautifully bottled), dip pens, and Japanese stationery. One of the most distinctive stationery experiences in Tokyo — not just shopping, but making something.
The Custom Notebook Process
- Choose a cover — cloth, paper, leather, or transparent; dozens of options
- Choose inner paper — plain, lined, dotted grid, or watercolor paper
- Choose binding rings — size and color
- Choose a clasp — optional closure
- Staff bind it on the spot — takes ~15 minutes while you browse inks
Finished notebooks start around ¥2,000–4,000 depending on materials.
Also Worth Noting
- Kakimori Ink — their own ink line in a wide color range; sold in small bottles, great for fountain pens
- The shop also carries a curated selection of dip pens, nib sets, and Japanese paper goods
- Small space — browsing is unhurried but the shop can feel snug on busy days
Getting There
From Asakusa: 10 min walk south along Edo-dori or Kuramaegashi-dori Nearest Station: Kuramae Station (Toei Asakusa Line or Toei Oedo Line) — 3 min walk
Pairs well with: An Asakusa afternoon (Apr 17) — Kakimori fits naturally into the Asakusa cluster as a 45–60 min add-on before or after Nakamise-dori and Senso-ji.
Photography Prep
Day Carry: 27mm f/2.8 mounted — discreet in a small shop Recipe: C1 Portra — warm tones suit the paper/ink textures Also: C2 Bright Retro for exterior (canal-side street has good light) Best Time: Late morning (11:00 AM open) — quietest before lunch crowds Light: North-facing interior — soft indirect; good for product detail Focus On: Custom notebook assembly process (with permission), ink bottles backlit, cover material textures, the assembled final product Restrictions: Small shop — ask before photographing staff or assembly process Entry: Free → Photo Journey Guide · Fuji Recipes