Where to find English books in Tokyo? While buying on Amazon is always an option if you have a specific title in mind, discovering a book by chance at the bookstore provides a great experience. If it happens to be a rare or old book specializing in a certain field, Amazon might not even be an option. In such cases, the destination should be KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE in Jinbocho.
If you’re interested in watching a video featuring Kitazawa Bookstore in our “Area Guide in Jimbocho,” along with other recommended places, please refer to the page below.
Table of Contents
A History of Over 100 Years with a Collection of Over 12,000 Books
Kitazawa Bookstore specializes in foreign second-hand and rare books. Its history traces back to 1902 when Yasaburo Kitazawa initiated operations, primarily supplying books to university libraries and research facilities. Ryutaro, an active professor at Ochanomizu University and Tokyo Metropolitan University, succeeded as the second generation. Under his leadership, the bookstore shifted its focus to the import and sale of foreign books. In 1992, guided by the current representative, Ichiro Kitazawa, the business transitioned to the fourth generation, Rika Kitazawa. Over four generations, they have consistently supported English and American literature in Japan. When you step into the store, you’ll encounter a diverse collection of around 12,000 books spanning various genres.
Beyond the tradition
You will be amazed by the beauty of the bookstore—it feels like stepping into a charming historic hotel in the UK. The shop has been meticulously redecorated by Rika Kitazawa, who founded a new department, KITAZAWA DISPLAY BOOKS.
With KITAZAWA DISPLAY BOOKS, you can request to coordinate decorations using the books they sell. Their services extend beyond individual customers, catering to clients seeking to create model rooms for homes, design interiors for shops, artwork for commercials, exhibition displays, stage sets, and more. In an era where books can be easily purchased online and there is a diminishing demand for second-hand books, breathing new life into them by using them as decorative elements has become a unique approach. Even if books have been digitized, they may end up as waste if discarded. Despite someone deeming a book unnecessary, it carries a long history, and there might be others who find it fascinating. Choosing not to discard them represents an environmentally conscious and innovative business model.
Finding your favorite from the treasure box
You can learn about Japanese and Asian cultures, linguistics, philosophy, religion, music, design, and art through a diverse range of old books at KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE. You might encounter an unexpected gem among them. The bookstore showcases newly arrived books on its Instagram, and you can explore various old books through its official online shop. Enjoy unique discoveries that you can only find at Kitazawa Bookstore.
Details of Kitazawa Bookstore
Kitawaza Bookstore: View Website
- Kitazawa Display Books: View Website
- SNS: Instagram Facebook X
- Address: 2F, Kitazawa Building, 2-5 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo,
Business Hours: 11:00~18:30, 12:00～17:30 on Saturday, Closes on Sunday and bank holidays,
