Even in today’s digital age, where screens dominate our work and leisure, notebooks remain an essential part of daily life. There’s an irreplaceable tactile pleasure in putting pen to paper to capture fleeting thoughts. Notebooks serve countless purposes, from brainstorming and planning to creative expression, and for more inspiration, you might enjoy our previous blog: Common and Creative Ideas: How a Notebook Can Change Your Life.
At Shibuya Stationery Store, we carry a wide range of notebooks to suit every need, but among them, Kokuyo’s Campus Notebooks consistently stand out as our best-sellers, loved for their quality, design, and thoughtful features.
What Makes Campus Notebooks Special?
Kokuyo Campus Notebooks are exactly what you want them to be: functional, easy to use, and a genuine pleasure to write in. Their design is simple yet thoughtfully crafted. The cover is sturdy enough to protect your notes, yet flexible enough to flip through easily.
The paper used in Campus Notebooks is Kokuyo’s original formulation, developed to offer a smooth, comfortable writing experience without ink bleeding or smudging. Instead of recycled paper, Kokuyo uses forest-certified pulp sourced from responsibly managed forests that meet global sustainability standards. This ensures a perfect balance between eco-conscious production and premium paper quality.
Campus Notebooks also come in a variety of sizes and page counts, from a compact A5 with 40 pages to a spacious B5 with 100 pages. Each model is designed with subtle differences to suit various writing styles and purposes. In the sections below, we’ll explore what makes each type unique and help you find the one that fits your needs.
Campus Note (Ruled)
The classic Campus Ruled Notebook is one of Kokuyo’s most recognizable and best-loved notebooks. Even in Japan, it remains a staple for students and professionals alike.
Cover Features:
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The cover has several distinct line sections, each serving a purpose:
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Section 1: Write your notebook’s title (e.g., subject or project name).
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Section 2: Indicates the line spacing inside the notebook at a glance.
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Section 3: Space to write your name.
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On the side near the binding, there’s a slim area for labeling the subject, so you can easily identify the notebook on a shelf.
Inside the Notebook:
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Subtle dotted guidelines appear at the top, middle, and bottom of each page to help align text, organize charts, or keep notes balanced, without distracting from writing.
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The notebook lies completely flat, making writing comfortable and easy.
Otona Campus Note (Ruled & Grid)
Otona, which means “adult” in Japanese, is designed specifically with grown-ups in mind. Unlike students, adults take notes for a wide variety of purposes: from meetings and study to planning and creative work. Kokuyo created the Otona Campus Note to support these diverse needs, offering a more efficient and comfortable writing environment. You can easily identify them by their darker, more sophisticated covers.
Cover Features:
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Like the classic Campus Notebook, the cover features similar line sections serving the same practical purposes.
The Otona Campus lineup is divided into two categories: Input and Output, depending on how you intend to use the notebook:
1. Otona Campus Note – Grid (Output)
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Features a square grid layout ideal for organizing thoughts, illustrations, diagrams, and jotting down ideas.
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Designed for “output” tasks, anything that requires you to structure, visualize, or creatively arrange information.
2. Otona Campus Note – Ruled (Input)
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Contains ruled paper with subtle dots on each line, allowing you to draw clean, straight lines without a ruler.
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Created for “input” tasks such as meeting notes, study notes, or taking minutes.
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The dotted lines also make it easy to incorporate diagrams or illustrations alongside text.
With these two options, Kokuyo ensures that adults have the right notebook for any task, whether capturing information efficiently or expressing ideas creatively.
Discover Your Perfect Notebook with the Campus Note Bestsellers Bundle
The subtle differences between Kokuyo Campus Notebooks are thoughtfully designed, and when used strategically, they can significantly boost your productivity. The Campus Note Bestsellers Bundle lets you experience them all, giving you the chance to find the notebooks that best suit your style, needs, and workflow.
With a variety of sizes, page styles, and colors at your fingertips, you’ll always have the perfect notebook for every project, meeting, or creative idea. Whether for note-taking, planning, or journaling, this carefully curated bundle brings together the best of Kokuyo’s high-quality Japanese stationery, combining practical design, attention to detail, and premium paper.
The bundle is the simplest way to elevate your desk setup, a complete set designed to keep you organized, focused, and inspired for every task. Each notebook serves a specific purpose, allowing you to experiment, discover, and choose the one that fits your needs best, making your everyday writing experience more enjoyable, efficient, and effective.
