I am a massive bibliophile. Most writers are. I love everything about books, from the stories printed on the pages to the history of what shapes those stories, to the literal manufacturing process. So when I first heard about Jimbocho, Tokyo’s legendary Book Town, I knew I had to visit.
Jimbocho is named after a 17th-century samurai, and it’s a paradise for book lovers. From the moment you step off the subway at Jimbocho station – with books printed on the walls – you know you have found someplace special. It’s no wonder they call it Book Town – with over 150 bookstores, it’s a literary metropolis.
These bookstores range from the regular giants to a hundred second-hand shops and specialized art bookstores. If each bookstore is a portal to a thousand worlds, then Jimbocho is a place of convergence.
It’s impossible to visit them all in one day, but the experience of being surrounded by so many books is amazing for a book lover like me!
We had the fortune of visiting during the Kanda Secondhand Book Festival, and it was an unforgettable sight. The streets were literally lined with books, with over a million second-hand books on sale.
This festival transforms the area into (what I’ve seen referred to as) a “book corridor,” with vendors setting up pop-up tables beneath the trees and lanterns.
The festival runs from late October to early November, so, if you find yourself in Tokyo especially at that time, make sure to visit Jimbocho.
Tee Linden 