Ginza Itoya

Quick Facts

Last checked against official information: 2026-11-14.

What it is

Founded in 1904 (Meiji 37) in Tokyo's Ginza district, Itoya (株式会社伊東屋) is Japan's most celebrated stationery specialty house. Guided by its modern vision of serving as "a place where people spend creative time" (クリエイティブな時を過ごす場所), Itoya reimagined stationery from simple utilitarian supplies into high-design instruments of personal inspiration.

Its flagship complex on Ginza’s Chuo-dori has two linked spaces: G.Itoya, the 12-floor main building with pen and paper departments, indoor farming and CAFE Stylo, and K.Itoya, reconfigured as four retail levels (B1 and 1F–3F) after its 2024 renovation. K.Itoya includes the Note Couture custom notebook service and B1 framing consultation. Visitors can explore the current official floor guide before arriving.

How to order

Step 1: Navigating the Twin Ginza Flagship Towers

Itoya's Ginza headquarters is split into two specialized buildings located directly beside one another:

• G.Itoya (The Main Tower - 12 Floors):
  • 1F Ground: Seasonal greetings, postcards, and drink stand.
  • 2F Share: Letter sets, fine Japanese washi stationery, and an in-store mailbox where you can purchase postage stamps and mail letters immediately.
  • 3F Desk: Luxury writing instruments, fountain pens, and the signature "ROMEO" collection.
  • 4F Organize: Planners, notebook accessories and leather stationery; the Note Couture service is at K.Itoya 2F, not on G.Itoya 4F.
  • 5F WORK: Writing materials, notebooks, desk accessories and work-related furniture; not a dedicated travel-gear floor.
  • 7F COLOR: Watercolors, oil and acrylic paints, color pencils and drawing materials, alongside approximately 1,000 varieties of specialty paper. Ask about the available color and paper test samples.
  • 12F Cafe: CAFE Stylo serving farm-to-table salads harvested from the building's 11F indoor hydroponic vegetable garden.
• K.Itoya (B1–3F): Four renovated levels, including B1 framing and gallery functions, 1F Itoya originals, 2F Itoya Kids and Note Couture customization, and 3F bespoke printing, stamps and workshops. Art materials available elsewhere in the flagship should not be assigned to nonexistent K.Itoya 4–6F floors.
• Operating hours generally span from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Monday through Saturday) and 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Sundays and national holidays); hours vary by store.

Step 2: Testing Pens & Personalizing Notebooks

• Testing Writing Instruments: On the writing-instrument floor, ask a staff member which display pens and nibs may be tried; a permanent dedicated “nib testing bar” and a promise to use specific paper stocks were not confirmed.
• Creating a Custom "Note Couture" Notebook (K.Itoya 2F):
  1. Select your preferred front and back cover materials (textured paper, cloth, or leatherette).
  2. Choose your internal paper stock (fountain-pen friendly grid, lined, blank, or dot-matrix).
  3. Discuss the available binding style and optional accessories (such as printed cover text or an elastic band) with the staff; both spiral and other binding types may be offered.
  4. Have the notebook assembled according to the selected options on-site; ask staff for the current production time rather than assuming a 15–30-minute turnaround.

Step 3: Cashier Checkout & Consolidating Receipts

• You may pay at individual floor cashiers or consolidate items across multiple floors depending on current store queue routing.
• Cashiers will wrap delicate fountain pens in protective padded gift boxes and provide official Itoya paper bags with the iconic red paperclip emblem.

Step 4: Tax-Free Refund Counter Procedure

• Branch tax-free status: Tourist tax-free service has not been independently verified for the branch named in this guide. Ask the store to confirm its current authorization and eligible items before planning a refund; do not assume that displaying a chain name establishes tax-free status.
• Inform the staff: "Tax-Free kudasai" and present your original physical foreign passport (Temporary Visitor status required).
• Under Japan's airport refund tax-free mechanism (enacted November 1, 2026):
  1. Purchase price: Pay the full tax-inclusive price at the register. A refund is available only when the specific outlet is an authorized tax-free shop and the traveler and purchase qualify.
  2. Only at a participating Itoya branch, staff register the eligible visitor and purchase electronically. The location of a tax-free counter at the Ginza flagship has not been verified; do not plan on a specific floor for this service.
  3. Eligible purchase and export: Since November 1, 2026, the former separate statutory categories of “general goods” and “consumables” no longer apply. At an authorized tax-free shop, an eligible visitor must spend at least ¥5,000 excluding tax in total at the same shop on the same day. Eligible goods covered by the purchase record must be taken out of Japan, not consumed or used up in Japan.
  4. 90-Day Customs Verification: Complete Japan Customs departure verification within 90 days after purchase. Use the required passport and electronic customs procedure; Customs may request an inspection of the goods. Where a check is needed for goods packed in checked baggage, do it before surrendering the bag.
  5. Flight baggage safety: Regular fountain-pen inks in containers of 100 ml or less may meet international cabin liquid limits if packed in the required transparent bag; sharp craft knives must not go in the cabin. Flammable solvents and some paints or adhesives may be prohibited even in checked baggage. Check the exact product, SDS, airline and airport rules. If Customs needs to inspect checked items, obtain that verification before baggage drop.
  6. Refund Execution: After Customs confirms export, the authorized retailer or its designated refund provider returns the applicable tax by the registered refund method. Customs does not pay the refund at the airport. The former immediate point-of-sale exemption and special consumable packaging procedures do not apply to purchases under the new system.

What to order first

1. Itoya Original ROMEO No. 3 Ballpoint Pen (ロメオ No.3)

• What it is: Itoya's flagship luxury writing instrument, featuring an acrylic resin barrel with swirling Italian-style marble patterns and a gold-plated crown inspired by clockwork gears.
• Why buy it: The ROMEO No.3 is offered with a choice of compatible refills; easyFLOW is a smooth ballpoint refill and should not be described as a gel refill.
• Price expectation: Examples from Itoya’s 2026 published prices include ROMEO No.3 Mini ¥14,300, slim barrel ¥16,500 and wide barrel ¥17,600 (tax included), with more expensive special editions. Confirm the exact configuration and stock at purchase.

2. Custom "Note Couture" Notebook (ノートクチュール)

• What it is: A personalized notebook made on-site from selected cover and paper options, with available binding and accessory choices that should be confirmed at K.Itoya 2F.
• Why buy it: A one-of-a-kind travel souvenir customized specifically to your sketching, journaling, or business writing style.
• Price expectation: Approximately ¥1,800 to ¥3,800 depending on materials selected.

3. Artisanal Japanese Washi Letter Sets & Woodblock Cards

• What it is: Fine stationery hand-crafted by traditional Japanese paper mills in Echizen, Mino, and Tosa, featuring seasonal flora, cherry blossoms, and gold-leaf accents.
• Why buy it: Lightweight, flat, and exquisite gifts that represent centuries of traditional Japanese papercraft.
• Price expectation: Approximately ¥480 to ¥1,600 per set.

4. Color Chart & Itoya Leather Desk Accessories

• What it is: Minimalist mouse pads, pen cases, and passport wallets crafted from vibrant European and Japanese calfskin leather.
• Why buy it: Timeless, functional desk aesthetics engineered for durability and daily corporate elegance.
• Price expectation: Approximately ¥2,200 to ¥8,800.

5. High-Precision Japanese Drafting Pens & Mechanical Pencils

• What it is: Professional drafting pencils from Pilot, Pentel, Tombow, and Uni featuring automated lead-rotation (Kuru Toga) and shaker mechanisms.
• Why buy it: World-class Japanese mechanical engineering at modest everyday retail prices.
• Price expectation: Approximately ¥450 to ¥2,500.

Payment & practical info

• Accepted Payment Modes: Cash (JPY), major global credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay), transit IC cards (Suica, Pasmo), e-Money, and mobile QR payments (PayPay, Rakuten Pay, d-barai).
• Tax-Free Refund Rules (from November 1, 2026; authorized branches only):
  • For eligible visitors at an individually authorized branch, the minimum is ¥5,000 excluding tax in aggregate at the same shop on the same day. Check that branch’s current participation before relying on a refund.
  • Pay the full tax-inclusive price; if the branch participates, have the purchase electronically registered. Complete Customs export verification within 90 days; for checked goods that need inspection, do this before baggage drop. The seller/refund provider returns the tax by the method registered at purchase.
  • All goods covered by a registered tax-free purchase must be exported; items used or consumed in Japan do not qualify for a refund. The former “general goods” and “consumables” statutory classifications no longer apply. Customs can require an actual goods inspection.
• Operating Hours: G.Itoya Ginza operates Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM; Sundays and holidays 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (varies by store).

Good to know / Common mistakes

1. Liquid Inks & Cutting Tools Aviation Rules

For nonhazardous ink bottles, the international cabin limit is generally 100 ml per individual container (with other liquid-bag conditions); many ordinary 30–70 ml ink bottles fall below this threshold. Sharp craft blades are cabin-prohibited. Some volatile solvents, paints and specialty liquids may be prohibited in both carry-on and checked baggage. Confirm the actual product, SDS and carrier rules before packing; obtain necessary Customs inspection of checked tax-free goods before baggage drop.

2. Custom Note Couture Assembly Time

Note Couture customization is shown on the current K.Itoya 2F guide. Ask about the day’s waiting time and any order cutoff; do not rely on the former 4F location or a fixed under-20-minute turnaround.

3. Promotional Discount Coupons

Promotional discount coupons may be distributed during specific promotional campaigns or corporate exhibitions. Terms, validity periods, exclusions, and minimum purchase conditions apply. Check the official Itoya website or customer desk for current seasonal promotions.

Sources

• Itoya Co., Ltd. Official Corporate Portal (Verified: 2026-11-12)
• Ginza Itoya Store Directory & Floor Guide (Verified: 2026-11-12)
• Japan Customs Departure Tax-Free Regulations (Verified: 2026-11-12)