Japantown in San Francisco is a captivating destination, a vibrant enclave brimming with cultural experiences, delectable cuisine, and unique shopping opportunities. If you’re planning a visit to San Francisco, immersing yourself in Japantown is highly recommended. You can easily dedicate a day, or even several days, to exploring its diverse offerings, from exceptional food and delightful snacks to distinctive gifts and charming hotels.
During my recent exploration of Japantown, I was particularly keen to discover the stationery scene. I was genuinely impressed by the variety and quality of stationery available. Japantown boasts a delightful array of stores, with several dedicated to stationery and related items, making it a haven for paper lovers and gift seekers alike.
Daiso Japan: A Treasure Trove of Affordable Finds
alt: Wide aisle view inside Daiso Japan store in Japantown San Francisco, showcasing shelves stocked with various household and stationery products
Daiso Japan, the renowned Japanese discount store, offers an extensive range of products, from household essentials to, of course, stationery, all at remarkably affordable prices. While prices in the United States are slightly higher than in East Asia due to import costs, Daiso remains a go-to for budget-friendly goods.
For stationery enthusiasts, Daiso presents a decent selection of inexpensive items, including plastic ballpoint pens and lead refills. While you might not find many top-tier brands, they do carry useful and practical stationery. During my visit, I noticed the stationery aisle was particularly popular, drawing in a crowd of shoppers eager to explore the offerings.
alt: Close-up of Daiso stationery wall display featuring colorful pens, pencils, erasers, and writing accessories in Japantown San Francisco store
The stationery wall at Daiso is a sight to behold, a colorful panorama of pens, pencils, and accessories. One could easily spend considerable time browsing the selection, a testament to the engaging variety available. Daiso also stocks some Pilot products at competitive prices, such as their popular FriXion erasable pens. While perhaps not a primary destination solely for Pilot FriXion pens, it’s a welcome find. Premium lead refills from brands like Platinum were also available, though priced higher at $1.75 for 10 pieces. More budget-friendly lead options in various hardness grades, including B grades, were also on offer. The overall atmosphere in Daiso is pleasant and conducive to leisurely browsing. However, be mindful of the tempting prices – it’s easy to accumulate items until your shopping basket (and budget) overflows!
alt: Display of Pilot FriXion erasable pens in various colors and sets at Daiso Japantown San Francisco
alt: Small Among Us themed merchandise section within Daiso Japantown San Francisco, featuring character goods
In conclusion, the Daiso store in Japantown is definitely worth exploring. In my experience, this location offers a superior selection and a more enjoyable shopping experience compared to other Daiso stores I’ve visited.
Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts: Japantown’s Premier Stationery Destination
alt: Exterior storefront of Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts in Japantown San Francisco, with window displays showcasing stationery items
Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts stands out as the definitive best stationery store in Japantown. While perhaps slightly pricier than some alternatives, the exceptional selection and unique atmosphere make it a must-visit. Maido is owned by Kinokuniya, the renowned Japanese bookstore chain, which conveniently has a location adjacent to Maido, further enhancing the stationery shopping experience in Japantown.
alt: Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts first floor interior view, displaying a variety of gifts, plush toys, and lifestyle merchandise
Maido has quickly become one of my favorite stores in California. Stepping into this charming store and browsing its densely packed aisles of stationery is always a pleasure. Interestingly, there are actually two Maido stores within the Japantown mall – one on the first floor and another on the second. The first-floor location features a delightful assortment of memorabilia and general merchandise, while the second floor is dedicated to higher-end stationery items, making it a true stationery paradise.
alt: Display of YELL brand stationery items at Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts San Francisco, featuring colorful and playful designs
I was thrilled to discover the YELL collection at Maido, reminiscent of items I had seen during a trip to Japan. While marked up from the original Japanese price of 550 yen (approximately $4 USD) to around $15, it’s still a more economical option than importing them individually. For those seeking unique and playful stationery, Maido is the place to find it.
alt: Extensive collection of washi tapes in various colors, patterns, and widths displayed at Maido stationery store in Japantown
The extensive selection of washi tape and other decorative craft supplies at Maido is truly impressive. While I didn’t have time to examine every item in detail, the sheer variety and creative potential were evident.
alt: Wall display of colorful pens and markers organized by color at Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts in San Francisco Japantown
The pen selection at Maido is simply captivating. Pens of every type imaginable are meticulously arranged, creating an aesthetically pleasing and slightly overwhelming display. For pen enthusiasts, this area is particularly enthralling. The organized chaos of pens is part of Maido’s unique charm, and many shoppers tend to linger in this section. As with other items in Maido, pens are generally priced higher than online retailers or stores outside Japantown. However, the in-person shopping experience and the opportunity to discover unique items often justify the premium.
alt: Diverse range of notebooks in various sizes, formats, and paper types displayed on shelves at Maido stationery store
Maido’s notebook selection is equally impressive, featuring popular Kokuyo Campus notebooks alongside premium offerings from brands like Maruman Mnemosyne. While expect to pay a premium (around $15 for an A4 size notebook), the quality and selection are undeniable.
For discerning writers, Maido showcases a collection of higher-end writing instruments, carefully displayed in glass cases. This is where the price point becomes significantly higher, with some items priced almost double what you might find elsewhere.
alt: Display case featuring Pilot brand fountain pens with price tags at Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts, indicating higher prices
Consider, for example, the Pilot fountain pen collection at Maido. The prices are notably inflated. A Pilot Elite, for instance, might be priced at $140, while it’s available for closer to $90 online. The Pilot Custom 823, priced at $375 at Maido, can be found for around $220 online. This significant price difference might deter buyers seeking high-end fountain pens. Purchasing these items online is generally recommended for better value.
alt: Display of Rotring mechanical pencils in a glass case at Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts, showcasing premium drafting tools
This pricing trend extends to high-end mechanical pencils as well. Rotring pencils, for example, are marked up considerably. The Rotring 800, priced at $101.50 at Maido, can often be found on sale for around $30 at other retailers.
alt: Close-up of glass display case featuring various premium pens and pencils at Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts in Japantown
Despite the inflated prices on some premium items, many of Maido’s products are reasonably priced, including popular choices like the Lamy Safari and Kaweco Sport. Ultimately, shopping at Maido is a mixed bag in terms of pricing. It’s advisable to do a little price research before purchasing, particularly for higher-end items, to ensure you’re getting a fair deal.
alt: Colorful display of Lamy Safari fountain pens and rollerball pens in rainbow colors at Maido stationery store
alt: Fisher Space Pen display case featuring various models and finishes at Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts
alt: Selection of popular mechanical pencils including Pentel GraphGear and Staedtler models at Maido Japantown
Kinokuniya Books: Stationery and Character Goods
alt: Kinokuniya Bookstore storefront in Japantown San Francisco, with large windows displaying books and Japanese magazines
Finally, Kinokuniya Books, Maido’s parent company, is also located in Japantown. Primarily a bookstore, Kinokuniya does offer a selection of stationery, primarily focused on branded character goods.
alt: Display of Sanrio character merchandise at Kinokuniya Bookstore in Japantown, featuring Hello Kitty and other popular characters
alt: Spy Family anime merchandise display at Kinokuniya Bookstore San Francisco, including pencils and character goods
Kinokuniya is a haven for character merchandise lovers. The selection, while enjoyable, is relatively limited in terms of general stationery compared to Maido, as it is primarily a bookstore. Like Daiso, Kinokuniya is a pleasant place to browse even without a specific purchase in mind. However, Kinokuniya generally offers higher-end goods, and some items can be quite expensive.
alt: Interior view of Kinokuniya Bookstore, showcasing tall bookshelves filled with books and magazines
alt: Another interior perspective of Kinokuniya Bookstore in Japantown, highlighting the book-lined aisles and browsing atmosphere
Stationery is not the primary focus at Kinokuniya, so the selection is not as extensive. However, the atmosphere and curated selection of books and character goods make it a worthwhile visit.
Overall, visiting Japantown and exploring its unique shops, especially Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts, is a highly recommended experience. The distinctive items you discover are likely to become cherished additions to your collection, even if you resist the temptation of overpriced fountain pens. If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, be sure to include Japantown and Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts in your itinerary – happy exploring!
