24 Best Japanese Highlighters 2024

24 Best Japanese Highlighters 2024

May 13, 2024Rasmiya Assadi

Let the important things stand out in your textbook with these best Japanese highlighters! Highlighters are indispensable, whether you are a student or a working professional. You just cannot do without a good highlighter.

Illuminate your notes with the vibrant, smooth glide of the best Japanese highlighters. Renowned for their precision and no-bleed ink, these writing essentials are a favorite among students and professionals alike.

Add a pop of color to your work with highlighters that offer both function and flair in your daily tasks.

Which is the best Japanese highlighter?

I checked out several Japanese highlighters. We found that Zebra Mildliner Double-Ended Highlighter is the best Japanese highlighter. Zebra Mildliner Double-Ended Highlighter is a unique pastel color palette that's easy on the eyes, a versatile dual-tip design for broad highlighting and precise underlining, and smooth ink flow that prevents messy bleed-through.

Plus, their high-quality build ensures they'll be your dependable companions for long.

Best Japanese Highlighters At A Glance

Best Japanese Highlighters Check it out Amazon
Pilot Highlighter Frixion Light Check price on Amazon
Kuretaka Brash Hilite Check price on Amazon
Pilot VW Spotliter Double Ended Highlighter Check price on Amazon
Kokuyo Will Stationery Actic Highlighter Twin Pen Check price on Amazon
Kokuyo Beetle Tip 3way Highlighter Pen Check price on Amazon
Pentel Knock Highlighter Check price on Amazon
Zebra Optex Care Fluorescent Highlighter Check price on Amazon
Zebra MIDLINER WKT7-5C Check price on Amazon
Zebra Highlighter Just Fit WKT17-5c Check price on Amazon
Uni Propus Window Quick Dry Highlighter Pen Check price on Amazon
Uni Propus Window Soft Color Double-Sided Highlighter Pen Check price on Amazon
Zebra Kirarich Glitter Highlighter Check price on Amazon
Kokuyo Mark+ Two Colors Highlighter Check price on Amazon
Tombow MONO Edge Highlighter Check price on Amazon
Uni Ball Promark View USP 200 Highlighter  Check price on Amazon

Top Japanese Highlighters

Pilot Highlighter Frixion Light

The first one of the best Japanese highlighters is the Pilot's Frixion Light. It is presumably the only erasable highlighter out there. It gives you one of a kind ability to alter the highlighted text. Utilize these Erasable Frixion Light Standard Color highlighters when you truly need something to stick out.

These strong and splendid hues make featured content leap out at you, which is the thing that we need from our highlighters. The set comes with three vivid colors that we adore.

Key Features:

  • Erasable highlighter
  • Lets you alter and edit the highlighted text
  • Helps stick out the highlighted content
  • Strong and splendid hues

Related: For more stationery, check out best Japanese mechanical pencils

Kuretake Brush Hilite

The next one of the best Japanese highlighters is the Kuretake Brush Hilite. This is perfect if you love to draw fast and precise lines with your highlighter. It functions admirably on thick books, like dictionaries where the pages are angled, where it can be hard to utilize customary highlighters. You can even utilize it for art. It is incredible for drawing thin lines. It comes in a set of five brilliant shades.

Key Features:

  • Perfect to draw fast and precise lines
  • Works admirably on thick books, like dictionaries
  • Can be used for art
  • Incredible for drawing thin lines
  • Comes in a shade of fiver brilliant shades

Pilot VW Spotliter Double Ended Highlighter 

This is a dual-ended highlighter, which just draws us in. Imagine having two different colors in one single highlighter. This feature lets you differentiate between different colors. The shading comes out fresh and clear with this highlighter, leaving the print underneath effectively noticeable.

This makes the Pilot Spotliter quite a great highlighter. It draws perfectly over printed content written in dark ink. Since it is so inky, this best Japanese highlighters don't rub or catch on the page. The shading is very distinctive, which we love.

Key Features:

  • Dual-ended highlighter with two different colors
  • Shading comes out fresh and clear
  • Print underneath remains noticeable
  • Draws perfectly over dark ink without rubbing or catching the page
  • Distinctive color

Kokuyo Will Stationery Actic Highlighter Twin Pen

This is a dual-ended highlighter with two unique hues on either end. The pack accompanies three dual-ended highlighters, which implies you get an aggregate of six striking and brilliant shades. Isn't it absolutely great? The square barrel sort of secures our fingers, helping us point the highlighter and giving us lines of a similar width each and every time. The highlighter requires a significant stretch of time to dry, however.

Key Features:

  • Dual-ended highlighter with two unique hues on either end
  • Comes in a pack of three dual-ended highlighters
  • Gives a good grip
  • Helps get a similar width each and every time
  • Takes some time to dry

Kokuyo Beetle Tip 3way Highlighter Pen

This best Japanese highlighters has an impossible to miss tip that is molded like a beetle's horns, which permits us to draw a thick line, a dainty thin line, or two lines simultaneously. We can utilize any of the highlights by basically pivoting the highlighter, making it one of the most functional highlighters out there; however, it can take some effort to ace the various edges.

muji highlighters

Key Features:

  • A unique tip shaped like a beetle’s horns
  • Permits you to draw a thick line, a thin line, or two lines simultaneously
  • Can use any of the three ways by simply rotating the highlighter
  • Quite a functional highlighter

Pentel Knock Highlighter

This is a great retractable highlighter that makes using it so easy and convenient. You will not understand the ease that this highlighter provides unless you use it. You do not have to worry about the ink drying because the tip is sealed off by a shutter. It writes easily and pops out the highlighted text, making it easy for you to see it at a glance. It is quite a functional highlighter.

japanese highlighters amazon

Key Features:

  • Retractable highlighter making it easy and convenient to use
  • Tip is sealed off by a shutter so the ink does not dry out
  • Writes easily
  • Pops out the highlighted text
  • Functional 

Zebra Optex Care Fluorescent Highlighter

This is one of the most popular highlighters out there; it has a retro-style look. It does not have excessive fancy features, but it has a controlled ink flow, which is pretty great. It does not bleed on the paper and smudge words. The color that comes out of the thinner tip is also quite visible and lets you write with it.

The thicker tip on the other end is quite easy to use. It is smooth and contributes to steady, even lines. It is quite a simple highlighter, but when it comes to doing its job, it really is one of the best out there.

Top Japanese highlighters

Key Features:

  • Popular highlighter with a retro-styled look
  • Controlled ink flow
  • Does not bleed on the paper
  • Visible ink, even on the thinner tip, allowing you to write with it
  • Easy to use thick tip
  • Smooth and steady, with even lines

Zebra MILD LINER WKT7-5C

This whole set of highlighters takes the concept to a whole new level. Generally, when we think of highlighters, we automatically and naturally think of bright fluorescent colors. However, Zebra took this to a whole new level and brought out these amazing pastel shades. The colors are soft, but still quite visible. The shades are easy to see on paper and also are soft on the eyes. The tip is thick and flexible, perfect for unsteady hands. You also get quite even lines with this highlighter. 

Best Japanese highlighters

Key Features:

  • Pastel shades, instead of the regular fluorescent ones
  • Visible colors that are soft on the eyes
  • Thick and flexible tip
  • Perfect for unsteady hands
  • Gives even lines

Related: Check out these beautiful calligraphy and brush pens to sharpen your calligraphy!

Zebra Highlighter Just Fit WKT17-5c

This highlighter will instantly make you a fan, thanks to its magical writing. It gives straight steady lines, no matter where you write. The tip is so soft, it actually bends while writing. This allows you to get varying strengths of a stroke. It also easily adjusts to differences in angle.

This highlighter helps if you have an unsteady hand when drawing on a thick book. The ink is quite vibrant and bright. It also dries quite quickly, which is yet another feature that makes us love this highlighter. 

japanese highlighters amazon

Key Features:

  • Gives steady lines on all surfaces
  • Soft tip that bends while highlighting 
  • Can get varying strengths of stroke
  • Adjusts to the differences in angle
  • Vibrant and bright ink
  • Dries so quickly there will be no smears

Uni Propus Window Quick Dry Highlighter Pen

This is one of the best and the most popular of Japanese highlighters. It has multiple features packed into one. The ink dries as soon as it touches the paper, giving it no time to smear or smudge. The highlighter has a window in its tip that helps you lay down accurate lines that are steady and smooth. This highlighter really solves all your problems with its brilliancy. 

pastel japanese highlighters

Key Features:

  • One of the best Japanese highlighters
  • Ink dries as soon as it touches the paper
  • Does not smear at all, even if you drop a big blob of ink on paper
  • Makes steady and smooth lines
  • Has a window in the tip for accurate lines

Uni Propus Window Soft Color Double-Sided Highlighter Pen

This is a dual-ended highlighter with one end with a thin tip and the other with a thick tip. The Mitsubishi Propus 2 Window Soft is a highlighter that permits you to see the content you are highlighting through its window! This set has mild colors, so the hues are delicate pastel variants of customary highlighter hues. We love that they have diminished the splendor!

best japanese highlighters for school

Key Features:

  • Dual-ended highlighter with a thin and thick tip on either end
  • Works well on paper
  • Allows you to see the content you have highlighted
  • Delicate pastel hues instead of the regular bright, neon shades

Zebra Kirarich Glitter Highlighter

Finely processed glass particles transform a conventional highlighter into a disco study meeting. The Kirarich highlighters are the first sparkle highlighters to ever be made. Indeed, even the body of this pen has a shimmering fun. It comes with a water-based silver sparkle ink in five splendid hues. It includes a reusable delicate plastic case to keep the highlighters together for eternity. The top has 'stub' to get it from moving far from you.

muji highlighters

Key Features:

  • Has finely processed glass particles
  • Brings something new to the world of highlighters with its sparkly ink
  • Body of the pen has a shimmering fun too
  • Comes with a water-based silver sparkle ink
  • Comes in five beautiful hues
  • Has a reusable delicate plastic case to keep the pens together
  • The top has a stub to keep it rolling away from you

Kokuyo Mark + Two Colors Highlighter 

Kokuyo's Mark+ is an impressive highlighter with two highlighter colors at the same end! You can do some efficient color code highlighting with this handy marker. Imagine being able to easily and efficiently shift between two colors without changing the pen or switching sides. Doesn’t that sound like fun? The series includes 5 two-tone colors that are available in this 5 color set.

japanese highlighters amazon

Key Features:

  • Impressive highlighter with two highlighter colors at the same end
  • Excellent pen for color code highlighting 
  • Can shift between two colors without switching the pen or sides
  • Includes 5 two-tone pens

Tombow MONO Edge Highlighter

This is a dual-tip highlighter with expansive etch tip and extra-fine bullet tip in one pen. The exceptional lively hues are ideal for shading coding and embellishing organizers, diaries, note pads, and study guides. The noteworthy quick-drying ink doesn't spread when featuring over pencil or ink and doesn't seep through most papers.

Top Japanese highlighters

Key Features:

  • Dual-tip highlighter
  • Comes with a broad chisel tip and a fine bullet tip
  • Bright and lively hues
  • Great for color-coding and decorating
  • Quick-drying ink that does not spear
  • Ink does not seep through most papers

Uni Ball Promark View USP 200 Highlighter 

The highlighter includes a transparent window tip that permits you to see precisely what you are highlighting. The twistable tip permits us to feature the substance precisely, making it appropriate for both right and left-handers. The pen feels incredible in the hand and doesn't sneak off. The shades are excellent and splendid.

Best Japanese highlighters

Key Features:

  • Comes with a transparent tip that allows you to see what you are highlighting
  • Features a twistable tip
  • Perfect for both right and left-handers
  • Feels great in the hand
  • Does not slip off
  • Bright and splendid shades

Tombow Kay Coat Double-Sided Fluorescent Highlighter Pen

This is a highlighter that anyone will fall in love with. The Tombow Highlighter comes with a protected marker tip that’s made out of Kay Coat. The Kay Coat is a polymer coating that prevents the marker from breaking and drawing crooked lines. This will make highlighting more convenient and will help you draw smooth and crisp lines. The high resistant polymer coating also prevents rulers from staining and reduces frustration when drawing lines. 

This is a flexible highlighter that can be refilled by a Kai Coat Charger which has to be bought separately. It’s very affordable and user-friendly. It comes in a pack of 10 majestic colors that have nice fluorescent shades. 

Key Features

  • Polymer coated marker tip to prevent tip breaks and staining
  • Convenient to draw perfectly straight lines
  • Can be refilled with a Kai Coat Charger
  • Pack contains 10 bright colored fluorescent highlighter 

MUJI Highlighter Pen With Push Button

Muji is a popular Japanese stationery and household brand that sells high quality products. This highlighter is quite unique compared to the rest. It has a button that has to be pushed which releases the highlighter tip similar to the push button pens we’ve seen.

This feature of the highlighter ensures that the tip remains intact and it also prevents staining. Besides you also don’t have to worry about losing any lids because this push button highlighter has got your back.

The tip is thick and helps you draw neat lines without a hassle. The ink dries quickly which prevents them from smearing everywhere. Once the highlighter is over you can just exchange the refill which reduces the cost of buying a new set of highlighters. The highlighters come in a pack of five vibrant colors.

Key Features

  • Highlighters have a push button feature
  • Has a strong tip that helps to draw straight lines
  • Highlighters can be refilled
  • Comes in a pack of 5 beautiful shades

Muji Gelly Roll Highlighters

The Muji Gelly Roll Highlighters are a popular choice for students and professionals alike. They are known for their smooth, even highlighting, bright colors, and durable construction.

The highlighters come in a variety of colors, including classic shades like yellow, pink, and green, as well as more unique colors like orange and purple. The colors are vibrant and opaque, and they do not bleed through paper.

The highlighters have a gel formula that dries quickly and does not smudge. This makes them a good choice for highlighting text or underlining important information. The highlighters also have a fine tip that makes them precise and easy to use.

The Muji Gelly Roll Highlighters are a great value for the price. They are well-made and durable, and they provide smooth, even highlighting. If you are looking for a reliable and affordable highlighter, the Muji Gelly Roll Highlighters are a good option.

Here are some of the pros and cons of the Muji Gelly Roll Highlighters:

Pros:

  • Smooth, even highlighting
  • Bright colors
  • Durable construction
  • Fine tip
  • Affordable price

Cons:

  • Some colors may be too bright for some people
  • The ink can bleed through thin paper

Tombow Pastel highlighters

The Tombow Pastel highlighters are a set of 10 dual-tip highlighters that come in a variety of pastel colors. The markers have a fine tip for precise highlighting and a brush tip for blending and shading. 

The ink is water-based and non-toxic, and it dries quickly without smearing.

The pastel colors are soft and muted, making them ideal for highlighting text without being too overwhelming. 

The fine tip is perfect for highlighting small passages or words, and the brush tip can be used to create wider highlights or to blend colors together. The ink is also opaque enough to stand out on dark paper, but it is not so opaque that it obscures the text underneath.

Overall, the Tombow Pastel highlighters are a high-quality set of markers that are perfect for highlighting text, creating artwork, or adding a touch of color to your notes.

Here are some of the pros and cons of the Tombow Pastel highlighters:

Pros:

  • Soft, muted pastel colors
  • Fine tip for precise highlighting
  • Brush tip for blending and shading
  • Water-based ink dries quickly without smearing
  • Non-toxic

Cons:

  • Some reviewers have said that the colors are not as vibrant as they would like
  • The price is a bit higher than some other highlighters

Types of Japanese Highlighters

  • Japanese Gel Highlighters

Gel highlighters are great because the ink doesn’t dry out soon, unlike the normal highlighter ink. Also, the ink of gel highlighters are pretty viscous so it takes slightly longer to dry. But in the end you get a bright highlighted text that you can easily find. 

  • Japanese Pocket Highlighters

Pocket highlighters have a thin tip and its size is that of a regular pen. It’s pretty comfortable to use. And since the felt tip is thin, you can highlight exactly what you want and not worry about highlighting unnecessary text. 

  • Japanese Erasable Highlighters

Erasable highlighters are great for those who tend to be clumsy. Or if you plan to return or sell the book later. It works just like a pencil wherein you can erase the highlighted ink after. 

  • Japanese Multi Colored Highlighters

Multi colored highlighters are convenient to use specially for those who need to use different colors while highlighting text. With multi colored highlighters it makes easy for you to switch between colors when you’re highlighting. 

  • Japanese Glitter Highlighters
Glitter Highlighters

I love glitter and natural glitter highlighters are my favorite kind. If you want to make studying fun or if you’re making a DIY greeting card then using a glitter highlighter is a great idea! It goes without saying that the purpose of glitter highlighter is less functional and more for style. 

  • Japanese Retractable Highlighters / Highlighters with Push Button 

Retractable highlighters are great because you don’t have to worry about losing the cap of the highlighter (and then it dries out). With the retractable highlighter all you have to do is push the button for the felt tip to go back up. 

  • Japanese Pastel Highlighters 
Erasable Highlighters

If you’re not the fan of the neon ink in highlighters or just want to try something offbeat then try a pastel highlighter. You get super pretty colors and it works just like any highlighter. Because it’s pastel colors, it may not be very bright, so I wouldn’t recommend using it for studying. But if you keep a personal diary or a bullet journal then this will look absolutely cute! 

  • Japanese Jumbo Highlighters
jumbo highlighters in jhapan

Jumbo highlighters, as the name suggests, are designed to be bigger than the normal highlighters. While its design makes it super easy to find in your bag, it may not be most comfortable to hold. Also, the tip of a jumbo highlighter will also most probably be a thick felt tip.

This is great for text that’s in big size but won’t be the most convenient option for smaller texts with lesser space between lines. 

How to Choose the Best Japanese Highlighter?

Japanese highlighters are known for their vibrant colors, smooth application, and minimal bleed-through. But with so many options available, choosing the best one for you can be tricky. Here's a guide to help you narrow down your search:

Consider your needs:

  • Highlighting purpose: Are you highlighting for studying, work, or art? Highlighters for studying might prioritize minimal bleed-through, while art highlighters might come in a wider range of colors.
  • Tip type: Chisel tips are great for both broad highlighting and underlining, while fine tips are ideal for precise highlighting. Some highlighters even have double tips for added versatility.
  • Ink color: Do you prefer bright and bold colors, or softer pastel shades? Japanese highlighters are known for their extensive color selection, so you're sure to find the perfect shade for your needs.
  • Special features: Some highlighters have unique features like scented ink, erasable ink, or a water-resistant formula.

The best highlighters for you!

These were some of the best highlighters to help you organize yourself with the utmost precision. With highlighters, it's ideal to get a couple of various hues and append to every reason or importance. When you've thought of your own code, it'll be that a lot simpler to survey your notes and reports later on. Get these highlighters to do that job for you. 

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