Stationery Heaven in the Heart of Seoul
Being a stationery enthusiast, I just spent two glorious weeks in Seoul, South Korea, indulging in all the cute and unique stationery shops the city has to offer. As someone who’s been anticipating this trip for a long time, I was absolutely armed with knowledge about the must-visit stationery destinations and reservations at amazing restaurants.
Even better, I had a few of my stationery-loving friends join me on this incredible journey, making it feel like a full-on stationery and pen tour. Seoul is packed with endless experiences, and of course, stationery shops and pen stores were conveniently added to our itinerary.
As the Tripadvisor thread mentioned, stationery shops can be a goldmine for unique finds, and that couldn’t be more true in the bustling city of Seoul. From specialty ink stores to boutique pen shops, I was in stationery heaven the entire trip.
Exploring Seoul’s Stationery Mecca
One of the first unique stationery experiences we had was a special rubber stamp carving workshop at the Cute Things From Japan store. I, of course, had to attempt carving a cute cream soda stamp, even though I struggled a bit. But it was so much fun bonding with my stationery friends and learning tricks from the talented Eric Small Things.
After the workshop, we got to explore the store’s new location in-depth. Ayako, the owner, has really gone all out to create a beautiful, wooden-accented space with customizable walls for displaying all the latest stationery goodies. It was an honor to have a private shopping session there.
From Cute Things From Japan, we moved on to the iconic TRAVELERS FACTORY flagship store in Nakameguro. The wooden attic was a nice reprieve for us to rest and enjoy some refreshing drinks while surrounded by the store’s unique collection of travel-inspired stationery items.
Hunting for Exclusive Inks and Pens
No stationery trip to Seoul would be complete without a visit to Okamotoya, a store that carries a wide selection of Tono & Lims special edition inks. We had a blast poking through the rows of beautifully-labeled ink bottles, trying to decide which ones to take home.
Another must-visit was Ancora, the flagship store for Sailor fountain pens. I made multiple trips there, scoring bottles of limited-edition inks, including one inspired by the delicious yaki-imo, a seasonal sweet potato snack.
Of course, I also couldn’t resist the urge to splurge at Itoya, where I found a stunning limited-edition PLOTTER leather binder in a wax-washed pink hue. The word “limited” or “special edition” always gets me, and I’m so glad I snagged this unique item to commemorate my Seoul adventure.
Hotel Stay Inn was the perfect home base for all my stationery explorations around the city. After long days of browsing, buying, and experiencing, I loved being able to retreat to the hotel’s cozy amenities, like the relaxing bathhouse, to rejuvenate for the next day’s adventures.
Stationery Mecca and Foodie Heaven
Of course, no trip to Seoul would be complete without indulging in the city’s incredible food scene. Between all the stationery shopping, I made sure to savor local delicacies like monjayaki, yakitori, and tonkatsu.
One of the highlights was our visit to Oniku Kayru, where we were treated to an extravagant wagyu omakase course meal. Each bite of that Kobe beef was absolutely divine, and we felt so privileged to experience such a high-end culinary delight.
Another unforgettable meal was the Korean-Japanese fusion barbecue at Kabun Azabujuban. The unique selection of wagyu beef parts, from short ribs to liver, was simply mind-blowing. And the kimchi fried rice topped with a silky smooth egg was the perfect way to end the indulgent feast.
Moments of Zen Amid the Hustle and Bustle
Despite the jam-packed schedule, I did manage to carve out a few moments of zen for myself to simply enjoy the simple pleasures of journaling. One of my favorite spots was the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Nakameguro, where I could sit on the outdoor patio and sketch while sipping on a delightful green tea ice cream float.
Another memorable journaling session happened at Cafe Bechet, a charming retro coffee bar in Ginza. The strict “no talking” rule and the baristas’ slow, meticulous brewing process created the perfect atmosphere for me to savor a rich royal milk tea and lose myself in my TRAVELERS notebook.
Leaving Seoul with a Suitcase Full of Stationery Treasures
By the end of my two-week stay in Seoul, my suitcase was bursting at the seams with all the stationery goodies I had collected. From exclusive inks and pens to adorable collaboration items, I felt like the luckiest stationery enthusiast alive.
But more than the physical items, I left Seoul with so many wonderful memories of exploring the city’s vibrant stationery scene, bonding with fellow enthusiasts, and indulging in the incredible local cuisine. It was truly a trip of a lifetime, and I can’t wait to return to this stationery mecca in the heart of Seoul.
So if you’re a stationery lover planning a trip to Seoul, make sure to check out all the incredible shops around Hotel Stay Inn. Trust me, your suitcase (and your heart) will be overflowing with joy by the time you leave.
