From Reddit discussions we collected, sentiment about Hobonichi planners is largely positive: many users love the paper, layout, and flexibility, while others express frustration about rising costs, paper changes, and the tendency to overbuy planners they don’t end up using.

---

The Good

• Versatility and Adaptability “I use my Weeks for almost everything. Daily planning, light budgeting, goal setting, high level todo lists, even some bullet journaling. Its compact format is liberating… It’s done wonders for my mental health actually.” (17 upvotes)
• Paper Quality (Tomoe River Paper) “The paper is the real draw. Tomoe River Paper can handle a lot without breaking down. It’s also thin so we can have more paper for less volume.” (22 upvotes) “The paper is so thin but handles all kinds of media really well. I can paint, use markers, collage, etc.” (9 upvotes)
• Binding and Durability “Excellent binding is a must for me since I paste a lot of things in…” (38 upvotes) “The binding is very strong.” (9 upvotes)
• Thoughtful Layouts “I like the secret line, full timeline, few check boxes, and then all the space under them…” (38 upvotes)

The Not So Good

• Cost and Shipping “What I didn’t realize, at the time, was that getting just one cover and one book shipped overseas would cost over $100.” (10 upvotes)
• Planner Hopping & Overconsumption “I’m a planner hopper. I can’t seem to stick with one planner for more than a few months.” (context) “The only new thing I’m getting is a different Cousin. I’m not buying into overconsumption anymore. I’m broke, and I am tired.” (18 upvotes)
• Overwhelming Options & Scarcity Marketing “The scarcity marketing hits HARD for some folks.” (16 upvotes) “There are so many options, it gets overwhelming.” (paraphrased)

Comparisons to Alternatives

• Sterling Ink “Sterling Ink, it’s like a Hobonichi without the extras (color, quotes).” (17 upvotes) “Much prefer the Common Planner… the undated notes pages suit me much better.” (15 upvotes)
• Papertess “Papertess. I think it’s even more lovely than the Hobonichi. Slightly more minimal. Tomoe River Paper. Monthly, weekly, and dailies, but in what’s called a bundled format, which I much prefer.” (21 upvotes)
• Other Mentions “Sterling Ink, JustScribble, Rosey Life Planner, Aura Estelle all have options that can be considered.” (16 upvotes) “Wonderland 222.” (17 upvotes)
• Ring Binders “This is one of the reasons I prefer my Filofax… with the ring binder you can move notes around, digitise notes, and only carry what you need.” (13 upvotes)

Worth It For

• Paper lovers: “Both old and new TRP is some of the best paper out there, especially for fountain pens.” (19 upvotes)
• Those who value structure + creativity: “The layouts, so well designed and useful. The funny, silly, quirky quotes. The community.” (19 upvotes)
• Prep enthusiasts: “It’s all about the preparation… holidays, birthdays, and transfers of info before the new year. There are a ton of ways you prepare the planner before actually hitting January 1st.” (71 upvotes)

Not Worth It For

• International buyers worried about cost: “One cover and one book shipped overseas would cost over $100.” (10 upvotes)
• People prone to planner hopping: “I can’t seem to stick with one planner for more than a few months.”
• Minimalists or digital-first users: “The only thing I use planners for is work, and that’s all handled through a digital task manager.” (17 upvotes)

The Verdict

Reddit users are generally loyal to Hobonichi for its quality paper, thoughtful layouts, and versatility. For many, it’s a productivity and creativity tool that feels worth the investment. But frustrations with paper changes, high shipping costs, and the overwhelming range of options mean not everyone stays on board.

Overall, Hobonichi remains a cult favorite among planner enthusiasts—best suited for those who value the tactile joy of high-quality paper and structured layouts, and less ideal for budget-conscious or digital-first users.

---