My next book, a novel called beside myself, will be published worldwide in english by bloomsbury in 2016. I find it really difficult to walk past a book store without going inside. Its easy to lose a few hours if only that rummaging around in tokyos jinbocho neighbourhood, a bibliophile nirvana thats home to some 180 secondhand books. A couple of traditional shopping streets can be found near kanda station, further to the east.
The town also has the literary preservation association and the tokyo book club, as well as numerous universities, publishers, and libraries, making it an ideal place for a reading book in tokyo. Students flock to the mausoleum of confucius at yushima to pray for good exam results, and readers trawl jimbocho for new and secondhand books. Jimbocho is renowned as the centre of tokyos second hand book trade. Thousands of bibliophiles are expected to descend on tokyos jinbocho neighborhood over the next week or so as the city celebrates the 60th anniversary of its largest secondhand book fair. Jimbocho gallery art in jinbocho, tokyo time out tokyo. Jimbocho in tokyo is a book lovers paradise with plenty of book shops that serve japanese and english readers. When it comes to all things literary, however, no district is greater than jimbocho, tokyos book town. Its easy to lose a few hours if only that rummaging around in tokyos jinbocho neighbourhood, a bibliophile nirvana thats home to some 180 secondhand bookshops.
If youre a fan of books and travel, and you find yourself in tokyo then look no further. While there are many new and chain stores, the majority of booksellers in the area specialize in preloved and antique books. Saku ren jimbocho this neighborhood is a great choice for travelers interested in culture, city walks and cleanliness check location 1010051 tokyoto, chiyodaku kanda jinbocho 25, japan this neighborhood is a great choice for travelers interested in culture, city walks and cleanliness check location great location show map subway access. Most are secondhand bookshops, but a few are newer chains. Kanda jimbocho bookstore area chiyoda all you need to. Today, jimbocho maintains its status as the center of secondhand bookselling and literary life in tokyo, not least because its within walking distance of five major universities.
Because of its close proximity to office buildings, it. Erotic, fetishistic and forbidden are key themes at this small photographyfocused gallery, set right in the heart of jinbochos book town. Jimbocho station, which is on the toei mita line 19 minutes. Density and intimacy in public space a case study of jimbocho, tokyos book town. It was inspired by my yearlong journey through a book from every country in the world, which i recorded on this blog. Dress as a character from your favorite computer game, anime movie, or comic, then hop into your gokart and follow your guide around attractions such as rainbow bridge, tokyo tower, roppongi, and shibuya crossing. Kanda is also home to the kanda myojin shrine and its kanda festival, one of tokyo s three most important festivals. Jimbocho is the heaven for book lovers, because the town is known as book town, as there are huge number of book store, publish houses. Jimbocho book town begins at around the intersection of yasukunidori street and hakusandori street.
The cluster of universities surrounding jimbocho spiked the demand for books in the area, and tokyos book town is now home to nearly 200 bookstores. Nevertheless, the district offers several interesting neighborhoods, such as the ochanomizu musical instrument area, the jimbocho book area and the famous electronics and anime mecca akihabara. Tokyo tourism tokyo hotels tokyo bed and breakfast tokyo vacation rentals tokyo vacation packages flights to tokyo tokyo restaurants things to do in tokyo tokyo shopping tokyo travel forum tokyo photos tokyo map tokyo travel guide all tokyo hotels. Tokyos jimbocho neighborhood wont close the chapter on. Book shops jimbocho is the largest secondhand book shopping district in japan. Every book store has its own specialization, and mostly are secondhand bookstores, so in this area, you can easily find english books and even other countries books for a. Bookshops everywhere, bookshelves lining the streets, cafes where you can sit and read their books. Look out for the annual book festival, held in late october each year, when over a hundred local stores erect stalls on the streets.
Further to the south is also the jimbocho book town. Take a gokart tour in tokyo where you become part of the action while dressed in your choice of costume. From books and music to theater and visual arts, jimbocho has become one of most fascinating districts in japans vibrant capital city. Jinbocho, in tokyos chiyoda ward, is one of the worlds biggest centers for browsing used books, with around 160 stores selling volumes that range from the musty and dusty to antiquarian. From there, wander down the main streets and off onto the side streets. Due to its proximity to several universities and publishing houses, jimbocho has become the mecca of used bookstores and quaint coffeeshops. Tokyos book town jimbocho and the charming kagurazaka. Jinbocho is a reallife location located in chiyoda, tokyo, and served by the jinbocho station. Jimbocho, the book town jimbocho area has been called japanese quartier latin because this small area is surrounded by nearly ten universities, colleges and big vocational schools. Visitors browsing at outer extensions and entering jimbochos bookshops.
Once a literary haven for intellectuals and scholars, jimbocho still honors its cultured heritage by serving as tokyos book town. Though its best known as a haven for bibliophiles, the surrounding areas are brimming with an eclectic mix of outlets. Tokyos book town, some 180 stores strong, draws collectors for its rare volumesbut is also a college town, centrally accessible from hitotsubashi, meiji, and nihon university, among others, which makes it ideal for lowcost bookstorehopping. Kanda is also home to the kanda myojin shrine and its kanda festival, one of tokyos three most important festivals. This time as special guests i took my parents who are visiting japan to my favorite retro cafes at jimbocho. In this area, you will find many historical and unique coffee shops just by strolling around. As usual, any number of nearby stations can be used to access the area, but really there is only one choice. Tokyos jimbocho is said to be the worlds best antique book town, but there are many gourmet restaurants where you can have unique curries, original coffees, and more as you visit their book stores. While most are japanese books, there are also english second hand books available if youre looking for pricey historical books and oddities, look for the isseido book store on yasukuni dori just to the north of jimbocho station. The quarter jimbocho in tokyo, known as the book town, has more to offer than books. Jimbocho in the heart of tokyo is a bookworms paradise with over 200 book stores to choose from that serve both japanese and english readers.
Here we showcase the some of these longestablished coffee shops. Yasukuni shrine and tokyo imperial palace are notable landmarks, and travelers looking to shop may want to visit isetan department store shinjuku. Jimbocho district in tokyo is also called book town because its full of familyowned book stores. Tokyos underappreciated book town jimbocho sometimes alternately spelled with an n as jinbocho and often referred to by its nickname of jimbou.
In tokyo i found some great places to buy english books such as the tower records book section in shibuya. Kanda jimbocho bookstore area chiyoda 2020 all you. For families, couples, or lone intellectuals, jimbocho makes for a rewarding day in the heart of the bustling city, as mario leto explains. Jimbocho is a historical, bookcentric district in central tokyo. Tokyo is a city full of neighborhoods iconic for different things. Jimbocho book town shopping in jinbocho, tokyo time out. Property looks pretty old and some parts need to repair, i think. Jinbocho, also spelled as jimbocho, is known as a book town and the location of most publishing houses that are popular in japan. Explore jimbocho tokyo the book town of tokyo for book. Easy to access from jimbocho station and price is good. Go retro at the coffee shops passed down for generations.
Bordered by the university of tokyo and meiji university, the kanda and jimbocho area has a laidback, studenttown atmosphere thats perfect for leisurely exploration. Just a one minute walk from the a7 exit of jimbocho station is sanctuary for all book lovers. Jimbocho is home to anywhere between 160 and 200 bookstores, depending on who you ask. The origins of the area are as a source for tea water for the shogun ochanomizu literally means tea water, but dont expect any of that when visiting this tokyo neighbourhood. Harajuku for its influence in fashion and pop culture or akihabara for its wealth of electronics and anime. Explore jimbocho tokyos adorable booktown books and bao. It caters to a variety of artistic interests and is well situated in central tokyo for fast and easy access to other entertainments. Taken together, jimbocho isnt just the largest secondhand book market in. Jimbocho is also a book town, but there are many famous curry restaurants. Most of the books sold in the area are japanese but several shops specialize in foreign books mostly english. This street primarily consists of secondhand book stores with an impressive collection of art, design and fashion books. My first book, reading the world or the world between two covers, as it is known in the us, was published in 2015.
Its the place to go for cheap used books, unusual books and rare collectors editions. Book town in jimbocho was one of my best discoveries. There are countless places in japan for the eager anime and manga fan to visit, but one area that can be quite rewarding for anyone who desires a sense of history is jimbocho, the book town of tokyo. As is quartier latin in paris, there are many publishing companies, book agencies, some mega bookstores and innumerable number of small secondhand bookstores. Check out the events, stores and things to see in this book lovers paradise. Located in tokyos chiyoda ward, jimbocho boasts over 200 bookstores. Although there are many new stores and stores, most bookstores in the area specialize in their favorite books and old books. Turn the page centrally located between several universities, including meiji, nihon and senshu, jimbocho is home to over. Located in tokyos chiyoda neighborhood, hotel villa fontaine tokyojimbocho is near a metro station. Jimbocho vintage book town area guide when in tokyo.