Best Washi Tape Brands from Japan: A Complete Guide
Washi tape — decorative masking tape made from traditional Japanese paper (washi) — has gone from a niche Japanese craft supply to a worldwide phenomenon. Walk into any stationery store, craft shop, or bookstore, and you’ll find shelves of the stuff. But not all washi tape is created equal.
The best washi tape comes from Japan, where the product was invented and where manufacturers have spent decades refining the material, adhesive, and printing techniques. Japanese washi tape tears cleanly by hand, sticks firmly but removes without residue, and features printing quality that cheaper imitations can’t match.
We’ve used hundreds of rolls of washi tape from every major brand — decorating journals, wrapping gifts, organizing planners, and covering half our apartment in decorative borders (a phase we’ve mostly recovered from). Here are the best Japanese washi tape brands, what makes each one special, and where to start your collection.
What Makes Japanese Washi Tape Different?
Before diving into brands, it’s worth understanding what separates Japanese washi tape from the cheaper alternatives flooding the market.
Material: Authentic Japanese washi tape is made from washi (和紙), traditional Japanese paper crafted from plant fibers like kozo (mulberry), mitsumata, and gampi. This gives the tape its characteristic semi-translucent appearance, soft texture, and ability to tear cleanly without scissors. Cheaper tapes use standard paper or plastic film, which tears unevenly and feels stiff.
Adhesive: Japanese washi tape uses a pressure-sensitive adhesive that sticks firmly to paper, glass, wood, and most surfaces but removes cleanly without leaving residue or damaging the surface. You can reposition it multiple times before the adhesive weakens. Cheap imitations often use too-strong adhesive that tears paper when removed, or too-weak adhesive that peels off on its own.
Print quality: Japanese manufacturers use high-resolution printing techniques that produce sharp, vibrant patterns even at the tape’s narrow width (typically 15mm). The colors are precise, the registration is perfect, and the patterns repeat seamlessly. Lower-quality tapes often show blurry printing, color bleeding, and visible repeat seams.
1. MT (Kamoi Kakoshi) — The Original and Best
Founded: 1923 (washi tape since 2008) Price range: $3.50-7.00 per roll Rating: 4.7/5
MT (masking tape) by Kamoi Kakoshi is the brand that started the washi tape revolution. Kamoi was a masking tape manufacturer for industrial use — painting, automotive, construction — until 2006, when a group of artists visited the factory and suggested that masking tape could be beautiful. Two years later, MT was born, and the decorative washi tape market was created from scratch.
Why MT Is #1
Everything about MT tape is refined. The paper is thin, smooth, and tears cleanly at any angle. The adhesive is perfectly calibrated — strong enough to stay put on journal pages, smooth surfaces, and walls, but gentle enough to remove from paper without tearing. The colors are accurate and vibrant, and the patterns print with precision that cheaper brands simply can’t match.
MT’s catalog is enormous — hundreds of designs ranging from solid colors to patterns, collaborations with artists and brands (William Morris, Lisa Larson, Kapitza), seasonal releases, and limited editions. The solid color range alone includes over 30 shades, each precisely matched and consistent across rolls.
Best MT Products to Start With
- MT Basic Set (10 rolls) — $18.00 — Ten solid colors that form the foundation of any washi tape collection. These are the most versatile rolls you can own: use them for borders, labels, color-coding, and decoration.
- MT William Morris Collection — $6.50/roll — Gorgeous licensed patterns from the Arts & Crafts master. Beautiful in journals and for gift wrapping.
- MT Slim Set — $4.50 — Ultra-narrow (3mm) tape in sets of three colors. Perfect for planner decoration and fine detail work.
2. Bande — Washi Tape Stickers
Founded: 2016 Price range: $6.00-8.00 per roll Rating: 4.5/5
Bande invented a clever twist on washi tape: pre-cut, die-cut stickers on a roll. Instead of continuous tape, each Bande roll contains individual washi paper stickers (typically 200 per roll) in shapes like flowers, leaves, petals, and seasonal motifs. Peel one off, stick it down, and you’ve got a perfectly shaped washi decoration without cutting.
Why Bande Is Special
The die-cut format solves the biggest limitation of traditional washi tape — shape. Standard tape gives you straight lines and rectangles. Bande gives you flowers, cats, birds, food, and practically any shape you can imagine. For journal decoration, the difference is dramatic: Bande stickers create the look of hand-placed illustrations with zero artistic skill required.
The washi paper base means Bande stickers have the same semi-translucent quality as washi tape — they layer beautifully over text and other decorations. They’re repositionable (like washi tape) and leave no residue.
Best Bande Products to Start With
- Bande Flower Series — $7.50/roll — Realistic floral designs that are the brand’s signature. Beautiful for journal spreads and cards.
- Bande Seasonal Collections — Cherry blossoms for spring, autumn leaves for fall, snowflakes for winter. Perfect for seasonal journal themes.
3. Mark’s Inc. — Maste Washi Tape
Founded: 1984 Price range: $3.00-6.00 per roll Rating: 4.4/5
Mark’s Inc. produces the “Maste” line of washi tape — a curated collection that emphasizes muted, sophisticated patterns that appeal to an adult aesthetic. While MT covers every style from playful to elegant, Maste leans consistently toward refined, understated designs.
Why Maste Is Worth Trying
Maste tapes use a slightly different paper formulation than MT — the surface has a gentle matte texture and the colors are intentionally desaturated. The result is tape that looks elegant rather than crafty. Patterns like linen textures, simple stripes, and tonal florals blend naturally into planner pages and professional notebooks where bolder MT patterns might feel too playful.
The “Maste Draw Me” series includes tapes printed with planner-specific patterns like checklists, weekly headers, and time blocks — essentially turning washi tape into functional planner tools.
Best Maste Products to Start With
- Maste Multi Amazing Life Washi Tape Set — Curated sets of muted patterns that work together harmoniously.
- Maste Draw Me Series — Functional planner tapes with pre-printed formats.
4. Classiky — Artisan Washi Tape
Founded: 1988 Price range: $4.00-8.00 per roll Rating: 4.5/5
Classiky (full name: Classiky / Tobichi) is a smaller Japanese brand that produces washi tape with an artisan, handcraft aesthetic. Their tapes feel like they belong in a vintage stationery collection — muted colors, linen-like textures, and designs inspired by traditional Japanese craftsmanship.
Why Classiky Is Worth Trying
Classiky tapes have a tactile quality that’s distinct from MT or Maste. The paper is slightly thicker and has more visible fiber texture, giving each roll a handmade feel. Designs include natural kraft paper tones, simple grid patterns, vintage-style illustrations, and delicate botanical motifs.
The brand collaborates with independent artists and illustrators, producing limited-run designs that become collector’s items. If you appreciate craft and don’t mind spending slightly more for unique designs, Classiky is a rewarding brand to explore.
5. Round Top — Yano Design Die-Cut Tape
Founded: 2010 Price range: $5.00-7.00 per roll Rating: 4.3/5
Round Top’s “Yano Design” series produces die-cut washi tape similar to Bande but with a different aesthetic — more graphic and illustrative, with bolder designs and a wider range of themes. Popular motifs include food, animals, travel, and pop-culture-inspired designs.
Why Round Top Is Worth Trying
The die-cut shapes are intricate and well-made, with sharp edges and clean release from the backing. The designs lean more playful and colorful than Bande’s nature-focused aesthetic, making Round Top a better choice for people who want fun, eye-catching decorations.
How to Use Washi Tape
If you’re new to washi tape, here are the most popular uses:
Journaling and Bullet Journaling
- Page borders and dividers — Run a strip of tape along the edge of a page or between sections
- Headers — Use as a background for date headers or section titles
- Tab markers — Fold tape over page edges to create custom tabs
- Photo and ticket mounting — Stick memorabilia into your journal without glue
Planner Decoration
- Color-coding — Assign tape colors to categories (work, personal, health)
- Event markers — Flag important dates with a strip of decorative tape
- Weekly spread accents — Add color to weekly layouts without drawing
Gift Wrapping
- Seal envelopes and packages — More elegant than clear tape
- Create patterns — Layer strips of tape on plain brown kraft paper for custom wrapping
- Gift tags — Decorate plain gift tags with tape borders
Home Decoration
- Wall borders and frames — Create temporary wall art without damaging paint
- Label containers — Washi tape labels are beautiful and easily changed
- Switch plates and outlets — Cover plain white plates with patterned tape
Building Your Collection
Starter Collection ($25-30)
- MT Basic Set (10 rolls) — $18.00
- Bande Flower Roll — $7.50
- Total: $25.50
Enthusiast Collection ($50-60)
- MT Basic Set (10 rolls) — $18.00
- MT William Morris (2 rolls) — $13.00
- Bande Flower Roll — $7.50
- Maste Multi Set — $12.00
- Total: ~$50.50
Storage Tips
- Store washi tape in a drawer or box away from direct sunlight (UV fades the colors)
- Keep tape in its original packaging until ready to use
- Tape is repositionable when fresh but becomes more permanent over weeks — plan accordingly
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does washi tape last on paper?
Washi tape adheres permanently to paper after about 1-2 weeks. Before that, it’s repositionable — you can peel it up and move it without damaging the page. For journal and planner use, this means you have time to adjust placement before it’s permanent. On walls and non-porous surfaces, it remains removable for much longer.
Is washi tape the same as masking tape?
Washi tape is a type of masking tape — both use pressure-sensitive adhesive and are designed to be removable. The difference is material (washi paper vs. crepe paper) and purpose (decorative vs. painter’s masking). Japanese washi tape like MT is literally made by a masking tape company (Kamoi Kakoshi) using the same adhesive technology.
Can I write on washi tape?
Yes, most washi tape accepts writing from ballpoint pens, gel pens, and markers. The semi-porous washi paper surface absorbs ink reasonably well. Fountain pen ink may take slightly longer to dry on washi tape than on notebook paper. Light-colored and solid-color tapes work best for writing — dark or busy patterns make text hard to read.
How do I know if washi tape is authentic Japanese-made?
Look for brand names (MT, Bande, Maste, Classiky, Round Top) and “Made in Japan” on the packaging. Authentic Japanese washi tape is made from plant-fiber washi paper and has a semi-translucent, soft texture. Cheap imitations (often found on Amazon from unbranded sellers) use standard paper or plastic film, feel stiffer, and tear less cleanly.
Does washi tape damage walls?
Japanese washi tape from reputable brands like MT is designed for clean removal. On smooth, painted walls, it removes without damage or residue in most cases. However, on delicate surfaces (old paint, wallpaper, raw wood), test in an inconspicuous area first. The longer tape stays on a surface, the stronger the bond becomes.
Final Thoughts
Japanese washi tape transformed a humble industrial product into a creative tool that’s used worldwide for journaling, planning, crafting, and decoration. The quality difference between authentic Japanese brands and cheap imitations is immediately obvious — in tearability, adhesive quality, print sharpness, and overall feel.
Start with MT — it’s the original, it’s the best, and the basic solid color set gives you the most versatile foundation. From there, explore Bande for die-cut stickers, Maste for sophisticated patterns, and Classiky for artisan designs. The washi tape rabbit hole goes deep, but it’s a colorful, creative, and surprisingly practical journey.
For more Japanese stationery recommendations, check out our Complete Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Stationery and our How to Start Bullet Journaling guide.