I like books, so I decided to help the people living or just passing in Tokyo by starting a list of recommended bookshops.
Tokyo station-Otemachi-Nihombashi
In this area (what some would call the "center") you'll find, in order of importance :
- Yaesu Book Center, in front of Tokyo station. 7 floors, the last one for foreign books. It's a bit old. There are no lifts/elevators and escalators only go to the 5th floor, but the choice makes up for it.
- Maruzen, in Nihombashi (in front of Takashimaya). Only 3 floors of books (+ 1 for clothes and another one for maps, globes, wallets, pens, etc). Nevertheless, the selection of foreign books is one of the best in East Tokyo.
-Kinokuniya, in Otemachi, inside the Otemachi building (ground floor). Just one floor, but at least there are English novels and the last bestsellers. You'll also find LP guidebooks and magazines.
Kanda-Jimbocho
This is the Book district in Tokyo. They are too many bookshops to cite them all. The largest and most likely to interest foreigners is Sanseido. It's on the Yasukuni Dori (main street), just in front of the street leading to Ochanomizu and Meiji University.
Shinjuku
In the busiest part of Tokyo no need to say you'll find what you want. My first recommendation goes for Kinokuniya.There are 2 branches. The best is the one behind Takashimaya-Times Square. The other one is in near the Shinjuku 3-chome underground exit (on the street of Isetan, Marui, etc).
Shibuya
My favorite is Book 1st. You can't miss it, it's on Bunkamura Dori, 2 minutes walk West from the station.
Unfortunately, there are no more English bookshops in Ginza. There used to be Jena Bookshops, but it's closed since January.
Bookmarks