Traveler’s Factory Kyoto: My Stationery Haul

The Traveler’s Factory store in Kyoto is a must visit if you’re looking to expand your stationery collection. There are so many well loved stationery brands and I’m adding Traveler’s Factory to that list. This stationery store is tucked away in the most charming area in Kyoto. The building is surrounded by nature and greenery, which makes it such an enjoyable and inviting experience.

Traveler’s Factory Store Tour

Traveler’s Factory is a stationery lover’s dream. This store is so cute, complete with everything you would need to inspire your creativity. What’s unique about the Traveler’s Factory notebook is that although it’s a simple notebook, its’ fully customizable to your personality. Just as you have the creative freedom when writing in each page of your journal, you can build your own notebook from scratch. Their notebook is designed with the traveler in mind, with the intention that you’ll bring it with you to collect memories on your upcoming trips.

As you make your way around the Traveler’s Factory shop, you’ll not only find stationery products, but travel accessories as well. You’ll find rain jackets and umbrella’s for the rainy travel days. Books to read for your commute. Souvenirs and postcards for friends and family. They also have vintage cameras and camera straps for your adventures.

When you’re in the store, make sure you check out the old suitcase scale. You can purchase tokens at the front, weigh yourself or your luggage and get a collectable tag.

On the stationery side, you have take a look at the Traveler’s Factory customizable notebooks. You can also find pens, stickers, notebooks and more. They’re so thoughtful as well with the travel accessories. Expect to find keychains, leather pencil case holders, and travel bags to help you keep all your accessories in one place.

Inside the shop, there’s also a whole workstation, so you can also get started on putting together your notebook in the store. Don’t miss the stamp table where you can add unique stamps to your Traveler’s notebook.

How to Customize Your Own Notebook at Traveler’s Factory

Here’s how to customize your own traveler’s notebook:

Step 1: Add Refills – You’ll can pick from many different paper types that can be inserted into your Traveler’s notebook. Options include light weight paper, kraft paper, dot grid paper and more! You can clip together multiple refills at once depending on what your creative needs are

Step 2: Attach your Favourites – This is the really fun part of customizing your Traveler’s Factory notebook. Because of the simple look of their notebooks, it allows you to really design it to your own liking.

Accessories you can add include charms, bookmarks, engraved pens, stickers and more.

The Traveler’s Factory in Kyoto also offers a service where you can engrave your notebook, but it does take up to 1 month to complete.

Step 3: Hold Everything – Pencil cases, card holders, pen clips, paper clips are some of the travel accessories you can add to your notebook. That way all your stationery tools won’t get lost and are all in one place for you! They also sell notebook bags to help protect the leather cover when it’s in your bag.

Traveler’s Factory Stationery Haul

The Traveler’s Factory notebook cover comes in 2 sizes. The regular size (think the size of a folded paper map) and the passport size. The cover is made of leather and the colour will deepen over time as you use it.

For my notebook cover, I chose the regular size in the colour ‘Olive’. And to match it, I picked up a pen clip in the same colour as well.

When you purchase the leather notebook, it comes with refill paper inside it already. I chose to stock up on some refillable notebooks, as I knew I won’t be back for a little while. I chose grid paper, light weight paper, a card holder and kraft paper. I also got some extra bands, so that I could stack them together.

As I mentioned, you can engrave your new notebook, but unfortunately it does take 1 month to get back to you. Since I didn’t get to do that this time, I was able to get a pen engraved that same day.

For accessories, I chose a little camera charm to add as a bookmark and a unique Kyoto charm for the front strap. Lastly, I got a few postcards to document the trip and send to friends.

Where to Stay in Kyoto

I stayed at a hotel called Kabin Kyoto. I loved this hotel because not only was it located in a centrally, it was tucked away into a quieter area, which gave a very local feel to the stay . It’s such a walkable location to many points of interest such as the Nishiki Market, Gion or Sannenzaka. Traveler’s Factory is about a 20 minute walk from Kabin Kyoto hotel.

I always use Expedia to not only find the best rates for hotels in the city, but I really like how you can scan by location, ratings and pricing options as well.

Things To Do in Kyoto

When you’re exploring the shops around Traveler’s Factory, you’ll also find many cafes, local shops and restaurants in the area. I would highly recommend you check out Cafe Kitsune nearby for an afternoon treat. I was also curious about the Ace Hotel next door, as it looks like it would be a fantastic stay in Kyoto.

From the old historic areas such as Pontocho Alley, Sannenzaka and Gion, Kyoto is a beautiful blend of modern day and traditional architecture. Don’t miss Fushimi Inari Taisha or the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest to experience Kyoto’s serene and quiet side. Take a look at my 3 to 5 day Kyoto itinerary to find more things to do in Kyoto.

If you haven’t heard of Traveler’s Factory, be sure to add this one to your stationery store must visit list. You’ll likely find this brand in many stationery stores in Japan, but if you’re looking for all things Traveler’s Factory, visit their locations in Kyoto or Tokyo. This is now one of my new favourite stationery brands to have in my travel bag.

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