Hobonichi Weeks vs Traveler’s Notebook: Which One Fits You?

Choosing a planner can be surprisingly tricky. With so many options out there, two names stand out for stationery lovers: Hobonichi Weeks and the Traveler’s Notebook. Both have loyal fans around the world, but they serve different purposes depending on how you like to plan and record your life.

If you want a ready-to-use planner where all the dates are already printed, Hobonichi Weeks feels like the obvious choice. It’s compact, structured, and designed for straightforward planning. On the other hand, the Traveler’s Notebook offers flexibility above all else. It starts as a simple leather cover, but with inserts ranging from blank notebooks to monthly and weekly planners, it can become anything from a travel journal to a scrapbook to a detailed planner system.

In this post, I’ll compare Hobonichi Weeks vs Traveler’s Notebook across portability, paper quality, customization, and price. I’ll also share my own experience using both—where each shines, where they fall short, and who I think they’re best suited for.

The Core Concept

At the heart of Hobonichi Weeks is structure. When you open it, the dates are already printed, layouts are predesigned, and you know exactly how much space you’ll get for each week. It’s a true planner in the classic sense, meant for people who want their schedules, to-dos, and notes laid out in a predictable way.

The Traveler’s Notebook, however, starts as a blank canvas. It is essentially a leather cover with elastic bands that hold notebooks inside. Those notebooks can be anything: lined, grid, plain, or even preprinted planner inserts. If you want a weekly planner, you can buy a weekly insert. If you want a monthly overview, there’s an insert for that too. And if all you want is a plain notebook for sketches or journaling, that’s just as easy. In other words, the Traveler’s Notebook adapts to you, while Hobonichi Weeks expects you to adapt to it.

From my own experience, I’d say Hobonichi Weeks is for someone who decides, “I am going to use a planner this year.” Traveler’s Notebook is for someone who wants freedom but still likes having the option of turning it into a planner if needed.

Portability and Size

Portability is a huge factor when choosing between the two. Hobonichi Weeks is about the size of a slim long wallet, around 9.4 by 18.8 cm. It slips easily into most bags, even small ones, and feels very lightweight.

The Traveler’s Notebook comes in two main sizes: regular and passport. The regular size is larger, about 22 by 12 cm, and gives you lots of writing space, but it can feel bulky. The passport size is smaller, 13.4 by 10 cm, and is closer to a pocket notebook.

If I had to rank them purely on portability, the Traveler’s Notebook passport size wins, as long as you don’t overload it with too many inserts. Next comes Hobonichi Weeks, which is slim and practical. The Traveler’s Notebook regular size comes last, because although it’s beautiful, it feels too large for me to carry around casually.

There is also the question of how the cover ages. The Traveler’s Notebook is made of leather, which scratches and develops marks very quickly. Some people love this vintage look, but I personally prefer keeping my notebooks clean. (I even wrote a separate post about how I take care of my notebooks to keep them looking neat.) Because of that, I only use one Traveler’s Notebook passport size roughly, while I tend to be more careful with my regular size. Hobonichi Weeks, on the other hand, has fabric or synthetic covers that don’t show scratches in the same way, making it easier to keep clean.

Paper Quality and Writing Experience

For many people, paper quality is the deciding factor. Hobonichi Weeks uses Tomoe River paper, or in recent years, a new version of it. This paper is famously thin but very smooth to write on. Fountain pen users especially love it because it shows off ink shading and sheen beautifully.

That being said, it comes with a downside. Some inks take a long time to dry while others dry more quickly. I often find myself smudging notes if I’m not careful, especially when writing quickly during the day. This means that while the paper is excellent for fountain pens, it isn’t always the best match if you want to switch between different types of pens and inks.

The Traveler’s Notebook uses MD Paper, which is thicker and dries faster. It doesn’t highlight ink shading or sheen as much as Tomoe River, but it feels reliable and practical for everyday use. Smudging is less of a concern, making it easier to jot things down quickly without waiting for the page to dry.

My personal feeling is that Hobonichi Weeks has the edge in pure writing enjoyment, especially with fountain pens. However, the slower drying time can be annoying if you’re using it as a fast-paced planner. Traveler’s Notebook paper is more forgiving and practical, especially if you’re jotting things down quickly.

Customization and Creativity

This is where the Traveler’s Notebook shines. Because it is built around inserts, you can customize it endlessly. Want to keep a planner, a journal, and a sketchbook all in one? Just add three different inserts. Need to carry receipts, tickets, or small papers? Add a zipper pocket or folder. You can even swap inserts seasonally or for specific projects.

Hobonichi Weeks, by contrast, is more limited. The layout is fixed: weekly pages on one side, memo space on the other, and a chunk of memo pages in the back. While the overall structure doesn’t change, there is still plenty of room for customization. The right-hand side of the weekly spread is a blank page, which means you can experiment with different ways to plan your week. The memo section is also entirely blank, making it versatile for journaling, habit tracking, or creative layouts. I even shared a separate post with layout ideas, which can give you more inspiration on how to make the most of these pages.

Personally, I like keeping my planner pages minimal so that my to-dos and appointments are clear. That’s why I reserve Hobonichi Weeks for straightforward planning. Traveler’s Notebook is where I let myself decorate, paste tickets, or experiment with layouts. It’s almost like one is my “serious” planner and the other is my “creative” notebook.

Price and Longevity

Hobonichi Weeks typically costs between $30 and $40 for the book itself, and more if you buy a cover set. Since it’s dated, you’ll need a new one every year.

The Traveler’s Notebook is more expensive at first. A starter set with the leather cover and one insert usually costs around $50 to $60. However, the cover lasts for years, and you only need to replace the inserts, which are relatively affordable at around $5 to $15 each. Over time, this makes the Traveler’s Notebook more cost-effective, especially if you enjoy the system.

In my view, Hobonichi Weeks feels like an annual commitment, while the Traveler’s Notebook feels like a long-term investment.

Who Should Choose Which?

So which one is right for you?

Choose Hobonichi Weeks if:

• You want a ready-to-go planner with dates already printed
• You prefer a compact size for schedules and to-dos
• You enjoy smooth paper and don’t mind slower drying times
• You like keeping your planning minimal and clean

Choose Traveler’s Notebook if:

• You want maximum flexibility with inserts and layouts
• You enjoy decorating, journaling, or scrapbooking alongside planning
• You value leather covers that age with use (and don’t mind scratches)
• You want a system you can reuse for many years

From my experience, Hobonichi Weeks keeps me focused when I just want to plan. Traveler’s Notebook gives me space to play, record memories, and adjust as my needs change. Both are excellent, but they serve very different purposes.

Conclusion

Hobonichi Weeks vs Traveler’s Notebook isn’t really about which is better overall. It’s about which fits your lifestyle. If you see your planner as a tool for managing time and tasks, Hobonichi Weeks is likely the better match. If you see it as a creative companion that can evolve with you, the Traveler’s Notebook might be the perfect choice.

In the end, many stationery lovers, myself included, end up using both. One keeps life on track, the other keeps memories alive.