ノートブック
The Notebook for Writers
Watermarks that guide your pen—and disappear when you read. Highly functional, pleasantly aesthetic, and joyfully simple. The only notebook that adapts to what you do.
Watermark Lines
Created for Thoughtful Handwriting
Its watermark lines guide your hand, then gently recede as you write. It’s an optical effect: the soft lines stand out when the page is empty, then disappear under darker text.
As your words come into focus, the lines fade into the background—an effect created by optical contrast.
Material
Paper That Works
The premium Japanese writing paper (81g/m²) handles most pens and inks with ease—including fountain pens.
Design
Designed With Maximum Care
Developed over ten years, the iA Notebook reflects our core design values: clarity, simplicity, and purpose. It’s built to disappear—removing distractions so your thoughts can flow. Every detail exists to serve the writing. Nothing more, nothing less.
Quality
Handcrafted
Entirely made of paper, the Notebook draws from a long tradition of Japanese paper craft.
“Writing is easier with lines. Reading feels better without them. Could we have both? Ten years ago, we set out to build a notebook that shows lines when you write, and hides them when you read. Made entirely of paper. And it should be simple, obvious, and beautiful. It took years of prototyping, testing, and refining to get it right.”
—Oliver Reichenstein, Founder
“The exquisitely designed @ia notebook arrived today. Stunning. The watermark ruled lines are a fantastic innovation. The binding allows the book to lie flat. Not sure how a marker ribbon might be included in the binding, but that could be a thought for the future. So good I just ordered another, even though it will be a wait for the next batch. Congratulations to the team and the craftspeople involved.” —R. Bigg
“A beautiful notebook to complement beautiful software. Thanks @ia!” —A.S. Ali
“Got iA Notebooks today. They look and feel amazing. Also, the box and the overall looks like a piece of art with great attention to detail. Thank you!” —Oleg
“This is the most wonderful notebook! You can really feel all of the care put into it radiating out of it, from the box and packaging to the feel of the paper itself.
I just happened to get a glass nib and nib holder from kakimori the same day, and they make for a wonderful pair. It truly is the physical embodiment of everything I’ve come to expect from using iA Writer for over 10 years. Well done!” —S. Rose
“I received my first 2 iA Notebooks and just opened them—congratulations. They are exquisite. I’ve bought a LOT of notebooks in my time and there is nothing else like this. Spare and subtle and evocative—just the thing for thinking and feelings. Thank you, thank you. Thank you.” —A. Back
“Oh my… the @ia ノートブック arrived, and the packaging and presentation are breathtaking. It’s so lovely I’m not even sure if I’ll be able to write in it 😅” —C. Peters
“The @ia notebook, reassuring, peaceful—a reminder of a future.” —Paul
“I’ve been waiting for a while for this beautiful notebook by @ia and its quality is stunning. Absolutely the nicest notebook I’ve ever owned. The level of quality that this company delivers in their products is why I’m such a big fan!” —R. Escobar
“I received this absolutely gorgeous notebook last week. It’s a work of art; I’m almost afraid to write in it.” —S. Makofsky
“@ia received my 2x, both my wife and I respectfully packed it back as it’s way too beautiful to write on yet 😂 The wooden box felt right at home, the perfect finishing touch coming from Japan—like the familiarity of owning other handcrafted knives, kamisori, nomi or kanna. Congratulations, and I’ll be ordering more! Now I only need to identify what words will fill this book.” —S. Dash
“@ia The Notebook arrived and what can I say. This is a true piece of art and craftsmanship! I will probably not destroy it by writing on it ;-)” —S. Seiz
Specifications
- Size and weight
- A5 (148 x 210 x 20mm), 470g
- Paper type (GSM)
- 81g/m² Araveal White
- Materials
- Paper, glue, mesh
- Number of sheets
- 144 (288 pages), hardcover
- Guides
- 10mm ruled watermark lines
- Country of manufacture
- Handcrafted in Japan
Shipping
- Free shipping for 3+ Notebooks
- Shipping fees vary by region
- Additional taxes and fees may apply, depending on import duties, VAT, and delivery destination
Available in stores
- Zürich
- Kunsthaus Zürich
- haraiso
- Slovakia
- Brot
FAQs
Why use watermark lines?
Lines help with writing – they provide orientation and structure. But when it comes to reading, they get in the way. That’s why we don’t use grey or semi-transparent ink but rely on a classic element of paper making: the watermark. It’s naturally unobtrusive – visible when the page is empty, invisible when it’s full. It provides just the right amount of contrast good writing needs – without getting in the way.
How do the guidelines disappear? Is it invisible ink?
No. The effect is an intended optical effect, caused by the interplay of light and dark. When you look at a blank page, the watermark guidelines are faint but still clearly visible. As a page fills up with text, the dark ink begins to visually take precedence, causing the watermarks to recede into the background until they’re nearly invisible.
What types of pens work well?
The iA Notebook pairs particularly well with fountain pens. The paper is designed to handle fountain pen ink without bleeding or feathering, ensuring smooth writing and clean lines.
What nibs work best with the Notebook?
We recommend using F (fine) or M (medium) nibs. Japanese fountain pen users usually prefer F due to the delicacy and density of Kanji characters. European fountain pen users typically use M nibs.
Which ink types are best for the Notebook?
The choice of ink depends on personal preference. With F (fine) nibs, the ink selection is less critical; with M (medium) nibs, you should avoid using low-viscosity inks.
What type of paper does the Notebook use?
The Notebook is made of 81g/m2 Araveal White paper that provides a smooth writing experience with minimal ink bleed-through.
How long until I receive my Notebook?
Delivery times vary depending on the destination. When in stock, items typically arrive within 10 days in the U.S. and Europe. Delivery may take longer during busy periods, like the festive season. Once your order has shipped, we’ll send you tracking information, which you can use to check the delivery status.
