In this article, I’d like to introduce what I believe is the best pen for journaling.
I’ve been journaling for over 20 years, starting when I was 15. After all that time, this is the one pen I keep coming back to.
What Makes a Good Journaling Pen?
Before introducing my top choice, let’s think about what a journaling pen actually needs to do.
After more than two decades of journaling, I’ve come to one clear conclusion:
A pen that can keep up with your thoughts.
If there’s too much lag between thinking and writing, it breaks your concentration.
Journaling is often described as “writing meditation.”
Your thoughts need to flow naturally into words.
If writing itself becomes effortful, you end up focusing on the act of writing instead of your thinking. That defeats the purpose.
The ideal pen allows your thoughts to turn into words almost effortlessly.
Two Essential Requirements
In my experience, the best journaling pen needs only two things:
1. Smoothness
The smoother the pen, the smaller the gap between thought speed and writing speed.
2. Lightness
A lighter pen moves faster across the page.
It also reduces fatigue, even during long writing sessions.
The Best Pen for Journaling
Based on those two requirements, my choice is clear:
The Pilot V-Corn.
What Is the Pilot V-Corn?
The Pilot V-Corn is a liquid ink rollerball pen made by the Japanese stationery manufacturer Pilot.
It has been on the market since 1991, and its design has barely changed. That alone says something.
Why Is the V-Corn the Best for Journaling?
Simply put, it perfectly satisfies both requirements: smoothness and lightness.
Exceptional Smoothness
The ink flow is incredibly smooth.
Sometimes it feels as if your thoughts are flowing directly out of the pen tip onto the page.
Even though it’s technically a rollerball pen, the writing experience feels closer to a fountain pen.
Pilot is well known as a fountain pen manufacturer, and the expertise developed there clearly carries over into the V-Corn.
Unlike oil-based ballpoint pens, which rely on thick ink transferred by a rotating ball, the V-Corn uses low-viscosity liquid ink stored in a full tank. The ink is drawn to the tip through capillary action, allowing for continuous and stable flow.
To maintain that flow without leaking or skipping, the pen must constantly balance the intake of air with the release of ink. It also needs a mechanism to handle sudden changes in temperature and air pressure.
This is the same kind of system used in fountain pens, where the feed supports the nib and regulates ink flow.
That’s why I believe it’s not an exaggeration to call the V-Corn “a fountain pen with a rolling tip.”
Extremely Lightweight
The V-Corn weighs only 8.8 grams.
It’s surprisingly light in the hand.
Normally, I prefer ballpoint pens with some weight and balanced center of gravity. But the V-Corn is so light that balance becomes almost irrelevant.
It simply glides across the page.
Almost like a feather.
(I haven’t used a feather quill much… but that’s the image.)
A Weakness
Even this “ultimate” pen has one weakness.
It’s hard to find.
Despite how good it is, it’s not widely available. I’m not sure why.
Even when you do find it, it’s often sitting quietly in the corner of the pen section.
Outside Japan, it can be especially difficult to purchase.
However, if you ever visit Japan, I highly recommend picking one up.
You can usually find it at:
- Loft (stationery section, mainly capped models with color variations)
- Tokyu Hands (stationery section, mainly capped models with color variations)
- Yodobashi Camera (both capped and retractable models usually in stock)
- Bic Camera (both capped and retractable models usually in stock)
Final Thoughts
That was my introduction to the Pilot V-Corn.
I know it’s not a pen you can buy anywhere in the world, and that may limit the reach of this article.
Still, I genuinely wanted to share what I believe is an exceptional journaling pen.
If you ever visit Japan — or know someone who does — I hope you’ll give it a try.
Let’s Journal Together
On YouTube Shorts and Instagram, I share my daily routines and journaling habits.
Connecting with others who value self-reflection keeps me motivated.
If you’re interested, I’d be happy if you followed along — and maybe we can journal together.
I also share updates about new articles and daily insights on X.
I’d be happy if you followed me there as well.
Thank you very much for reading to the end.
I’ll see you in the next article.
Sayonara.
