Two months ago, I started journaling and writing more on paper, and now, I absolutely like it. Like, genuinely love it. My mind has started anticipating the routine, and instead of ignoring the overwhelming noise in my head and the flood of ideas, I now have a space to sort them out.

I began this handwritten journaling journey with a regular notebook: simple, unstructured, and open to anything. But as time passed, I realized I wanted something with a dated format to keep track of my days. At the same time, I didn’t want to lose the flexibility of blank pages where I could write freely without the constraints of a pre-set layout.

What I needed was a planner with a calendar, but not to use as a planner. My scheduling system in Notion works well enough for organizing my life. What I wanted was a physical book where I could keep a brief personal diary, somewhere to write down daily highlights, memorable moments, or thoughts worth revisiting (and maybe even sharing on my blog). At the same time, I needed free space to write without structure. Simply put, my brain agrees wholeheartedly with the feeling of pen on paper.

Before going into online browsing, I checked out local bookstores and stationery shops because I prefer seeing and touching products before buying them. I also visited some paper stores, and while I found plenty of cute and functional options, nothing truly sparked joy. I didn’t want to be impulsive, and since my current notebook still had some pages left, I wasn’t in a rush. I took my time.

Eventually, through occasional online searches, my social media algorithm kept throwing something called “Hobonichi” in my direction. I had no clue what it was. So, I did some research, and to my surprise, it turned out to be exactly what I was looking for.

To be honest, my first research about the world of Hobonichi was overwhelming. There were so many versions and layouts, but thanks to content creators who explain things in simple terms, I figured out that Hobonichi had a version that fit my needs perfectly.

Hobonichi Weeks Mega, It Is!

I decided that the Hobonichi Weeks Mega is the ultimate solution to my journaling dilemma. The weekly calendar section is just the right size: not too small, so I can still write comfortably and get creative, but not too large, so there’s no wasted space. Even better, it includes triple the amount of graph paper compared to the standard Hobonichi Weeks, giving me plenty of room to write freely. What finally convinced me was its shape: long and rectangular, almost like a wallet. It slips effortlessly into my handbag, solving my last dilemma: finding something compact yet spacious enough for my thoughts. After two months of journaling, this was exactly what I had been searching for.

Since it’s a Japanese product, I initially worried about availability in Helsinki. But I had a little hope. Finland has a sizable Japanese community, and the culture of handwritten journaling and planning is strong here. Plus, planner-friendly stickers are easy to find in Helsinki, so demand clearly exists. And where there’s demand, there’s a store!

Sure enough, when I checked the Hobonichi website, I was thrilled to discover that Finland has an official distributor with a physical store. Even better? The store wasn’t far from my home! Yaiy!

Excited, I browsed the store’s website to see what Hobonichi Weeks Mega options were available. That’s when I spotted a cover that matched my Wouf stationery set: blue with adorable dogs. It was meant to be. It must be a fate! The next day, I visited the store and grabbed what I needed (okay, maybe a little more than just the planner and cover). My haul? A Hobonichi Weeks Mega in Lemon Tree, a clear cover, a page keeper, and some stickers.

Back home, I unboxed everything and felt an overwhelming sense of joy. This was exactly what I had been looking for.

To Sum Up: Hobonichi Weeks Mega Delivers

I can confidently say that the Hobonichi Weeks Mega checks all the boxes for what I needed. Here’s why:

✔️ Compact & Portable: Its long, wallet-like shape makes it easy to slip into my handbag, so I can take it anywhere.

✔️ Balanced Layout: The weekly calendar section offers just enough structure without feeling restrictive, perfect for tracking my days.

✔️ Plenty of Writing Space: With triple the graph paper of the standard version, I have all the free space I need for journaling, brainstorming, and capturing ideas.

✔️ Flexibility & Creativity: A mix of structured pages and open space means I can write, doodle, or plan however I like without feeling boxed in.

✔️ Encourages Daily Writing: Having a dedicated space to sort out my thoughts, reflect, and track memorable moments has made journaling a habit I truly enjoy.

✔️ Easy to Find in Finland: The fact that I could purchase it locally (and even find a matching cover!) made the whole experience even better.

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Now, let’s see where my Hobonichi journey takes me! Hopefully, I’ll have plenty of good things to write about here.

Wishing us all good luck on our journaling adventures!