NOLTY Planners Guide: Which Format Fits Your Planning Style

Introduction

NOLTY is one of the most popular planner brands in Japan, and it is easy to see why. The lineup covers a wide range of formats and sizes, so whether you plan by the week, the month, or not at all, there is likely an option that matches your style.

Every NOLTY planner in this guide starts in April and uses high-quality, FSC-certified paper that handled all kinds of writing instruments in our testing without bleedthrough. Each planner comes with a protective cover fitted with a pen holder, and some covers also include card pockets sized for business cards or credit cards. Notably, those pockets also fit King Jim tapes, which is handy if you like to keep decorating supplies on hand.

Here is how the different NOLTY formats compare.

Weekly Planners

If you need ample space to write down all your daily tasks, a weekly planner is the way to go. NOLTY offers two weekly formats: Block Checklist, where each day has check boxes you can tick off as tasks are completed, and Graph Memo, where the days of the week run across the top of the page and the bottom portion is gridded for timelines or freeform planning.

Best for Daily Task Tracking: NOLTY Access Weekly Planner

The A5-size NOLTY Access Weekly Planner uses the Block Checklist format, so you can keep track of your most important tasks each day. The extra space beneath the check boxes is printed with a dot grid, which keeps your notes tidy.

One feature worth appreciating: the monthly calendars are grouped with the weekly pages, so you do not have to flip to the front of the planner and back again when checking deadlines.

This is the pick for anyone whose week revolves around concrete to-do lists.

Best for On-the-Go Planning: NOLTY Casual 7

Essentially a more compact version of the Access Weekly, the Casual 7 is great for planning on the move. Its weekly pages skip the dot grid sections, but a horizontal dividing line lets you group extra notes however you like: morning and evening, business and personal, or anything else you can think of.

One thing to know before buying: the monthly pages sit in one section at the beginning of the planner rather than being interspersed with the weeks.

Best for Brainstorming and Notes: NOLTY ECRI

The ECRI uses the Graph Memo format, which makes it especially useful if you do not have many daily tasks but need plenty of room to brainstorm, record meeting notes, or jot down grocery lists. There are more graph paper pages in the back as well.

It comes in A5 and B6 sizes, and the B6 version includes a graph paper notebook in case you need even more note-taking space.

Best for Memory Keeping and Planning: NOLTY Ecri Plus

The B6 Ecri Plus is almost exactly the same as the ECRI, with one addition: extra pages in the back for writing down your favorite experiences, the places you travel to, and more.

Be careful when ordering, because the Ecri Plus is available in both Block Checklist and Graph Memo formats. Check the listing carefully and add the right version to your cart.

Monthly Planners

If your planning style is more focused on deadlines than everyday tasks, a monthly planner is a better fit. NOLTY offers two options here, one full-featured and one ultra-compact.

Best for Deadlines: NOLTY Access Monthly

The NOLTY Access Monthly has cut-out index tabs so you can flip directly to the right month. The calendars are followed by line pages for task details, meeting notes, and more.

You can choose from A5 or B6 sizes, and it is especially welcome that you can pick between Monday-start and Sunday-start weeks.

Best Compact Monthly: NOLTY Lights

The NOLTY Lights is a compact monthly planner that slips easily into a purse or day bag. It has plenty of ruled and gridded pages in the back for notes.

One caveat: the monthly calendar squares are quite small, so pair it with a fine-tip pen. A 0.38 mm Uni JetStream Ballpoint Pen or Zebra Sarasa Gel Pen are both good options. Both are retractable so you will not lose the caps, and either one slots into the planner’s pen holder.

Undated NOLTY Diaries

Finally, there are the undated NOLTY Diaries. These charming journals let you write about everyday events, and because they are undated, you never have to worry about wasted pages. Just fill in the days as you go.

The B6 version uses a daily format, while the Slim version offers weekly spreads. If your goal is less scheduling and more reflection, this is the NOLTY for you.

Conclusion

NOLTY’s strength is how clearly each format serves a different planning style. Task-driven planners should start with the Access Weekly Planner or the compact Casual 7. If your pages lean toward notes and ideas, the ECRI and Ecri Plus offer the most writing space. Deadline-focused planners will like the tabbed Access Monthly, while the NOLTY Lights suits minimalists who carry light. And for anyone who prefers journaling over scheduling, the undated NOLTY Diaries fill in the gaps beautifully.