Review : BIC Intensity Aqueous Dual Tip Marker

 

I'm always interested in trying new brush pens so when DAISO started carrying these, I knew I had to buy them ^^

BIC Intensity Aqueous Dual Tip Marker

There are 12 colors in all [according to the website] and I picked 3 of them up to try!

Reminiscent of the tombow dual tip markets, one end has a brush nib and the other is a 0.7mm felt tip pen.

Swatches for BLACK, BROWN and PEACH

Since the brand promises vivid intense color, I've decided to match it up against some of my go-to brush pens. 

To be fair, only the black ink pens will be compared.

As you can see from the swatches above, the BIC intensity marker is indeed one of the darkest black inks. (Surpassed only by the Copic Multiliner Brush Pen)

Not only is the color vivid, it writes just as smoothly as the more costly brush pens. I highly recommend trying these out if you find them!

What do you think? Have you tried them out?

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REVIEW : PetaPeta watercolor tape

Tired of your usual stickers or washi tape? How about something a little different? Today, I'm going to review the watercolor tapes by PetaPeta.

Each roll has several different shapes and peel off the main roll of release paper easily. They also come in gorgeous vivid colors, which when placed on paper, create a watercolor look.

They are a little translucent but not quite like washi tape. If i had to give an example, i would say they are close to vellum paper. Adds a gorgeous shot of color to journals and gift wrapping. You can write on them with a marker or fast drying ball point pen! Or trying layering them for a different look! The possibilities are endless!

Have you tried these? What do you think of them?

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Hightide Flagship Store in Fukuoka

When you go to Fukuoka, one of the must visits is the Hightide flagship store. 

Hightide is a Japanese brand known for a wide range of products, from stationery to interior goods. 

Outdoors goods, diaries, bags, keychains, pouches, pens, t shirts, the list of items go on. 

The flagship not only carries their full range, they also have a small selection of curated goods from overseas brands. 

The nearest train station is Yakuin, however, because it is in a small laneway, a bit of walking is required. 

I adore these Hightide boxes and storage items and the store had every colour, including the new transparent range. 

Every corner of the store requires proper inspection. There was tools, accessories and cute collaboration designed stationery. Deciding what to buy was incredibly difficult. 

If you need a break, there's even a cafe. 

Seating is available outside. 

Overall we had an enjoyable visit, our shopping bags are proof of that. 

Have you visited? What is your favourite hightide item? 

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Review : DAISO Coordi Stationery Range

Ever popular 100yen store DAISO Japan has launched a new stationery range [COORDI]!

The range is different from their usual stuff and targets a more mature crowd or those with a love of neutrals.

Included in the range are some notebook covers which look very much like traveler notebooks.

Stickers and tapes

Fusen and and spare notebooks too

Here is my haul~

These cost 100yen + tax each.

The notebook set costs a bit more at 300yen + tax.

The set comes with the notebook cover, one refill notebook and extra connector band.

For those wondering if the refills will work in their TN, the answer is yes and no.

Yes, they will fit but note it will be a lot smaller [about one inch shorter]

Here they are: side by side. Left: DAISO COORDI Right: Traveler Notebook

All in all, a nice inexpensive buy for those just starting out and not keen to invest in an actual TN. 

What do you think? Will you be trying them out?

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Posta Collect Pens (Japanpost)

Have you ever visited a post office in Japan?

If you haven’t, I highly recommend you drop by next time you see one. Other than the usual mail services/products, Japan’s post offices also carry a range of products called Posta Collect.

This range includes the usual mail supplies such as envelopes, stickers, tape but they also carry postcards that might be exclusive to the area, limited edition or collaboration stationery such as washi tape and glue tape and of course, pens!

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I picked up 2 pens on a recent trip, the postcard pen for thin lettering in black and the postcard sign pen in black. I liked how the black white yellow packaging was simple yet attractive.

The postcard pen for thin lettering has a thickness of 0.35mm and is closest to a pigment liner. The ink dries fast but it isn’t as black as other pens.

The postcard sign pen looks exactly like the pentel sign pen and it is in fact, pentel branded, however the pen tip is a lot stiffer than the touch sign pen which you can see below. The ink is similar to the postcard pen.

As an example, I’ve compared the 2 pens with some other common writing/drawing pens below.

I used a postcard from muji and I found that some of the other pens bled a bit into the paper but the Posta Collect pens did not.

To sum up, I found them enjoyable to write with, they’re perfectly suited for postcards and the ink looks like it would fade-proof. However those qualities mean that the ink is not as black which might bother some people so definitely take that into account.

Have you seen the merchandise from Japan Post before? Would you go have a look next time?

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Touch & Flow SHONAN

Touch & Flow is a chain of high end stationery stores in Japan. There is one in Ginza Tokyo and one in Shonan Kanagawa. I paid a visit to the store in Shonan recently. Its not a large store [very small to be honest] but its probably a good thing because I wanted just about everything they stocked. They carried their own line of merchandise such as notebooks and tape (with store exclusives too) as well as brands such as MD and Travelers Notebooks. 

Here is what i purchased;

Reviews of everything i bought will follow shortly enough. For now, what do you think? Would you be visiting the shop next time you are in Japan?

 

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Hi-Note, Isesaki, Japan

Ever been on a roadtrip and needed a stationery fix? If your answer is yes, you're part of my tribe. If you're planning a roadtrip in Japan, this information is absolutely for you! 

On a recent roadtrip, the coffee drinker entered Hi-Note into the itinerary. Hi-Note is based in Gunma, Japan. They have 2 stores, one in Takasaki and another in Isesaki. We were on our way out of Isesaki so we stopped by that branch. 

If you thought city stores were great for stationery, this place will change your mind. This store was massive, just grab a basket and start shopping is my advice. They had everything from pens, notebooks, cards to art materials, folders and washi tape, the list is honestly quite long. They even had stuff that was already sold out in the metropolitan areas, score! 

You'll need time because there's so much to look at, we unfortunately didn't have a lot of time but did come away with some cool stuff, all the reviews for those items have gone up or will be coming up so look out for that. 

So yes, if you're in Gunma area, definitely stop by and take a look at Hi-Note. Also, how cute is their tagline? 'Change Stationery, Change Life'

Store info here. 

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Bunbougu Cafe (Stationery Cafe) Tokyo, Japan

Japan has heaps of themed cafes, cats, birds, hello kitty. There's so many I'm sure there's something for everything. On a recent trip to Tokyo, The Coffee Drinker and I decided to go to the Stationery Cafe in Shibuya, it's in a little street behind the main shopping street, not the easiest to find. 

First up, Bunbougu Cafe is next to a 7 Eleven in a basement and you arrive at the store part of the cafe at the bottom of the stairs. We didn't realise it before, but they were doing a collab on the day we went, I am unfortunately not familiar with the anime/manga they were doing the collab, but the entire cafe was kit out in the posters and merchandise, even the menu was themed. 

What is the draw of the stationery cafe you may ask. It's that they have tables of pens, markers, pencils, various stationery and paper for you to play around with. The highlight is definitely the large collection of copic that you can pick up and try and the cafe provides coasters that you can draw on which I thought was pretty neat. Do remember to return the stationery back to it's original spot after use, if you can't remember, a staff member will be able to help you out. 

We only had drinks but they were pretty good and we had fun testing out various pens and copic markers. There was also wall of non themed stationery if you want to browse but because of the collab, the majority of the store only had the collab goods. I'd like to go again when it is 'back to normal'. 

Have you been to this cafe? and if not, will you add this to your next Tokyo trip? Let use know in the comments. 

 

 

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