Maido Fine Stationery & Gifts - San Francisco — Local services in San Francisco

I've been going to Maido for years! They have an amazing selection of stationery, but I mainly come for fountain pens and fountain pen inks. Prices are slightly higher compared to online retailers like Jetpens and Goulet, but they make it up with the customer experience. Many times I have come to test out pens and inks, and they've always been very accommodating, whether it's taking the time to help me pick out the perfect black ink, swapping nibs when the pen I was looking for didn't have my preferred size, or even opening a new ink when I asked if they had a tester available. They've even asked me questions about the type of paper I prefer to test ink on, and If I used my pens for drawing or writing to help me further make an informed decision on the inks I'm considering buying. While prices are a bit steeper, the personalized experience is worth it every time. If you're new to fountain pens or looking to learn more about them during your shopping experience, Maido is an excellent...

Their selection is great! They have all the stationery/school stuff you'd find in Kinukuniya stores not in SF. And they have Preppy Pens! My favorite Japanese fountain pen.

However, the reviewer who mentioned that their prices are weird is right. Preppy pens usually cost around $2 in the US, here they are $4. While this might not seem like a big deal, preppy pens are like Bic pens. Not meant to be pricey, even in import.

I noticed the same with their Campus notebooks, which cost a few dollars more than I'm used to paying.

That's why the 3 star rating as opposed to 4. Because they're the only place I know of to get many of these supplies, you're stuck on these prices. It's a shame, too, as I do love...

CUTEST stationery shop in Japantown! Also - they support a lot of small business brands / artists in the store so many of the stationery items are one of a kind :)

As a small business owner myself, I love seeing this type of support for brands. Maido is a little small (and it gets crowded quickly) but you’ll never be short of cute stationery items here.

FYI - you do have to consume all your drinks before stepping inside the store / or leave it at the entrance before you go in! So I recommend going before you grab anything to eat/drink.

There is also an upstairs Maido with more notebooks/calligraphy pens/etc. the downstairs location is more focused on stickers, washi, stuffed...