Stationery World! (a Google map)🗺️

📍 A map of unique stationery shops for the stationery enthusiast!!!

As we explored in my last newsletter, visiting stationery shops is my tried and true travel strategy for wandering strange cities. But where exactly are these shops? Is there a comprehensive list? Well, I don’t gatekeep, so I’ve been working on an easily navigable resource for all of the stationery enthusiasts clamoring in my comments section. By a serious stationery lover, for serious stationery lovers.

The character of a neighborhood or a city cannot be discovered in its chain-stores, but within its small, independent businesses. There will be no Muji or Topdrawer on the map, but this does not mean we do not like these stores—they just don’t need to be pointed out as must-see destinations/they’re not unique to any city. Adding these would distract from specialized knowledge I have of stationery shops you can’t find anywhere else, filled with lovingly hand-curated items. There are SOME exceptions, (Kinokuniya is one of them - and is a comparatively much smaller chain).

As always, I will advocate for small businesses first and foremost. +When it comes to independent stationery shops, they often have their own original products, or stock items from local artists! These make the best souvenirs, and make the visit all the more special. The shops I have personally vetted meet my very simple criteria of local, special, beautiful.¹ Eg: They sell handmade paper! They stock 20,000 unique stamp designs! They letterpress their own notebooks! This is what we’re looking for. 🤓

Brief acknowledgement: thank you to my friends and family who I have dragged or tricked into going to stationery stores while traveling.

Stationery organized by color at Shorthand in LA.

As with anything I organize, there’s a system. This one is color coded! See below the legend for my stationery shop map:

Map Pin Colors:

💚- Green means go! This is a favorite shop of mine. This is the stationery equivalent of three Michelin stars. Personally vetted and raved about by moi, and should be prioritized over a “blue” shop (see next).

💙- Blue indicates a shop that has the JournalingDan stamp of approval. A shop I visited, enjoyed, and recommend. These are still very good! There just has to be a differentiator for exceptional shops. :)

🧡 - Orange indicates the second location of a shop I have not personally vetted, but am willing to vouch for. Eg: The Caran D’ache store has 2 locations, but I’ve only visited the one in Zurich. I am certain the one in Geneva is worth a visit as well.

💛- Yellow indicates shops I have not visited yet, but would like to. Many of these are recommendations from trusted sources/or the result of personal research. I’ll update these as I visit them! (I am once again asking, which lovely airline would like to send me to Japan?!?)

💜- Purple indicates a destination that is not a shop, but will certainly be of interest to any stationery enthusiast. (I have only visited the Postal Museum on this list) There are only four of these so I’ll list them briefly:

• The Postal Museum in London (self-explanatory)

• The Craft Castle in Baltimore (an arts and crafts studio for adults)

• The Rainbowholic Stationery Cafe in Tokyo (a stationery shop and cafe)

• The Bunbougu Cafe in Tokyo (a cafe that offers free writing tools/stationery for patrons to use while they sip coffee)

The Map:

I have just discovered in real time that you can’t embed Google mymaps to Substack (😑) so please click this link or that button ⬆️ or the screenshot below!

Click this picture to see the map!

I hope you use and enjoy this resource! In a few weeks I’m off to personally vet some more shops in Paris, I’ll be updating the map as I go.

Did I miss any shops? Where in the world is your favorite stationery store? 🌏 Leave a comment and let me know!

1. I am also averse to shops who sell “gifts and stationery” which usually means they sell greeting cards, corny vinyl stickers, and mugs.