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If you love books, Tokyo might be one of the best cities in the world to spend a trip. There is an entire neighborhood dedicated to bookstores, giant shops with floors and floors of books, and stationery stores with great book sections. Everyone recommends traveling to Tokyo with an empty suitcase for shopping, and I recommend considering the weight of your new books as well. Here are the places I’d go back to, plus a few tips so you can plan your own book-hunting day.
Jimbocho: Tokyo’s Book Neighborhood
Jimbocho is a full neighborhood of bookstores, and it’s a must if you love books. The first tip: plan it out. It can be overwhelming, and with so many shops, it’s easy to spend hours wandering without knowing where to start. The second tip: not everywhere sells English books, so don’t be discouraged if you walk into a shop and find only Japanese titles. There are also plenty of vintage magazine and book shops worth exploring, and you can easily spend an afternoon (or more) here. I recommend researching first, since shops can get quite specific. They also have a book hotel which is probably a fun experience for book lovers.
If you want to read a story set in this neighborhood before you go, try Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. Walking around Jimbocho after reading it is a special experience. I’ll write a full Jimbocho guide soon, so stay tuned.
Tsutaya Books – Daikanyama
Tsutaya Books has a wide variety of books in both Japanese and English. They have many locations, and I visited the ones in Shibuya and Daikanyama. I strongly recommend going to the Daikanyama one: it’s bigger, the building is beautiful, and it’s such a cool experience overall. Tsutaya also does activations with independent artists, selling their products and exhibiting their artworks. At the Daikanyama location, I even witnessed live painting. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s worth the visit just to browse.
Sekaido and Japanese Stationery Stores – Shinjuku
Here’s a tip that surprised me: Japanese stationery shops have book sections, and you can usually find cool art, fashion, and manga books there. Sekaido, in Shinjuku, was the first stationery store I visited in Japan. It has 7 floors, and Matt found an Akira book we didn’t see anywhere else. If you’re already planning a stationery day, check out my guide to the best stationery stores in Tokyo, and don’t skip the book section. Sekaido is a few blocks distance of the next bookstore on this list, Kinokuniya, so you might check them both on the same day.
Kinokuniya – Shinjuku
This bookstore has 9 levels with books in Japanese and English, magazines, art gallery, stationery, manga and much more. It’s on a street full of other popular stores (including Sekaido, mentioned above), and it’s a good spot to explore whatever kind of books you are interested in.
Animate
Animate is the place for art books specialized in anime and manga. I found The Art of Kiki’s Delivery Service in one, and I didn’t see it anywhere else, not even at the Ghibli Museum. If you’re a fan of anime or Studio Ghibli, it’s worth a stop. They have several locations and you can choose which one is more convenient for your itinerary – it’s possible you will run into a few of them during your trip.
Tips for Buying Books in Tokyo
Plan ahead, since bookstores have so many options that it can be overwhelming, and keep in mind that not every shop sells English books. Remember to do your research if you’re looking for a specific title or books from an anime or manga franchise you’re a fan of. Plan extra space in your bag: it’s very easy to come home with more books than you planned.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tokyo For Booklovers
It depends on what you’re looking for. Jimbocho is a whole neighborhood of bookstores, Tsutaya Books in Daikanyama is a beautiful, large store with independent artist activations, Kinokuniya in Shinjuku has 9 levels of books, and Animate is the place for anime and manga art books.
Jimbocho is Tokyo’s book neighborhood, a full area of bookstores. It’s worth planning ahead, since it can be overwhelming.
Some do, but not every shop does. Tsutaya Books and Kinokuniya have books in both Japanese and English, while some stores in Jimbocho may only sell Japanese titles.
Yes. Japanese stationery shops, like Sekaido in Shinjuku, usually have book sections with art, fashion, and manga books.
Sekaido and Kinokuniya are a few blocks apart in Shinjuku, so you can visit both on the same day.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a story set in Jimbocho, and it’s a nice read before you visit.
Animate has art books specialized in anime and manga. They have several locations across the city.
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