Japan has an expansive and rich literary culture spanning back over a thousand years, and you can see that reflected in the modern day in a love of books, manga, and more.
Eastern Japan (Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa)
Book and Bed Tokyo Shinjuku
Here’s one place where you can be surrounded by books everywhere you turn, even when you sleep. This book-themed capsule hostel has guests sleep in compact bunks built into or behind bookshelves, surrounded by several thousand books in multiple languages.
The hostel has an on-site shared lounge with large windows overlooking neon-lit Shinjuku, and a café serving drinks and snacks.
Address: Kabukicho APM Building 8F, 1-27-5 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 4PM
– Check-out time: 11AM
BOOK HOTEL Jimbocho
That’s not Tokyo’s only book-themed hotel. Next up is BOOK HOTEL Jimbocho, located just steps from Jimbocho Station in Tokyo’s famous used book district (more on that later). Shelves of curated titles line the lobby, corridors, and many of the guest rooms, with each floor themed around different genres. Manga and graphic novel lovers will especially enjoy the Manga Art Rooms.
The hotel also runs playful services such as staff-selected “book matching” and book-and-drink pairings, encouraging guests to discover new authors while they relax.
Address: 2-5-13 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0051
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 3PM
– Check-out time: 11AM
Jimbocho Book Town
Is it cheating to include a whole neighborhood of bookstores? Some might say yes, but it would be a crime against literature to name only one must-visit in Japan’s one and only book town. Located in Tokyo’s Chiyoda ward, Jimbocho holds over 150 bookstores, many specializing in used, antiquarian, and rare books.
Its origins date back to the late 19th century, when nearby universities started looking for more places to get textbooks, and publishers in the Kanda Jinbocho neighborhood answered. Today, the book town packs a literary punch with vintage cafés, retro shops, and specialized bookstores with titles in pretty much every major language under the sun.
Address: 2-20-26 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0051
Opening hours:
– Varies among individual bookstores
Book House Cafe
If your time in Jimbocho is limited and you can only visit one place, make sure that place is Book House Café. This bright, inviting space combines a children’s bookstore and café, carrying thousands of picture books alongside a warm, family-friendly atmosphere.
The café serves as a gathering spot for families and book lovers, featuring a small event space on the second floor that often hosts readings, author discussions, and performances. It is conveniently located just a minute’s walk from Jimbocho Station and is open daily except during the New Year holidays.
Address: Kitazawa Building 1F, 2-5-3 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0051
Opening hours:
Bookstore:
– Monday to Sunday: 11AM – 6PM
Café:
– Monday to Friday: 11AM – 5:30PM (last order 5PM)
– Saturday & Sunday: 11AM – 6PM (last order 5:30PM)
GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS
Ginza Tsutaya Books brands itself as a leading art bookstore, with tens of thousands of art books, rare and vintage titles, and large-format “big books” from Japan and abroad. Tall bookcases and a central gallery zone give a real art museum vibe that’s only compounded by the sleek, modern design molded into every corner and tile.
The space is a perfect blend of bookstore and art gallery, regularly displaying fascinating art pieces on its floors and behind glass cases. It also has a Starbucks café where you can relax with your favorite latte.
Address: Ginza Six 6F, 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061
Opening hours:
Bookstore:
– Monday to Sunday: 10:30AM – 9PM
Café:
– Monday to Sunday: 10:30AM – 10:30PM
ROUTE BOOKS
This spot doesn’t just combine a bookstore with a café, but also a botanical shop for everyone out there who loves both books and plants. (Glad to know I’m not the only one.) Being surrounded by lush greenery and refurbished furniture works to create a warm, inviting atmosphere you wouldn’t expect from the middle of the city.
On top of selling books, plants, and furniture, this shop has a wide array of programs and events on offer, including workshops, live music, and craft markets. It’s a vibrant place that values the idea of nurturing what you have for a richer life.
Address: Route Common 1F, 4-14-3 Higashiueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0015
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 12PM – 9PM
Infinity Books and Event Space
While most of the shops on this list feature primarily Japanese-language books, Infinity Books and Event Space specializes in used English-language books. Founded by a UK-born owner, it’s more than a simple bookseller, but a community hub hosting English lessons, live music, poetry readings, quiz nights, and book clubs.
It’s a great place to stop by, whether you’re a native English speaker or just learning, and whether you live in Japan or are just popping by for a visit.
Address: Komakata Heights Building 1F, 1-2-4 Azumabashi, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0001
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Thursday: 9AM – 9PM
– Friday & Saturday: 1PM – 11PM (will close 9PM if no scheduled event)
– Sunday: 1PM – 6PM
– Monday: Closed
The Waseda International House of Literature (The Haruki Murakami Library)
The Waseda International House of Literature, also known as the Haruki Murakami Library, opened in 2021 on Waseda University’s Tokyo campus. The library gets its nickname from the famous Japanese novelist, Haruki Murakami, and the over 3,000 Murakami-related items housed in the library’s walls. Some of these things include first editions, translations in 50 languages, and memorabilia from the author’s Jazz Cafe days.
On top of that, the library has a café, gallery, audio room playing Murakami’s favorite music, and even a replica of his writing study.
Address: Building 4, 1-6 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0051
Opening hours:
– Thursday to Tuesday: 10AM – 5PM
Mori no Tosyo Shitsu (Forest Library Room)
Near Shibuya Station, you can find an intimate book café and coworking space by the name of Mori no Tosyo Shitsu (which translates to “Forest Library Room” in English). It’s filled with Japanese books and manga that visitors can freely browse and read.
Despite being so high up, this book café has an underground vibe: simple and subdued, even a bit understated. But that’s part of the appeal. By combining a relaxed ambiance with music, drinks (both soft drinks and alcohol), and snacks, it makes a great place to hang whether you want to work or socialize.
Address: Shibuya Daiichi Kangyo Bank Joint Building 8F, 23-3 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0042
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 9AM – 10:45PM
COW BOOKS
This offbeat, independent bookstore is known for its curated selection of rare, vintage, and secondhand books, especially those related to the Beat Generation and counterculture. Founded in 2002 by notable book critic Yataro Matsuura and designer Setsumasa Kobayashi, the bookstore prides itself on spotlighting unique, lesser-known Japanese titles.
With a waist-high cow statue outside and a motto scribed on its storefront, “everything for the freedom,” this definitely makes for an interesting visit. It also sells its own original merchandise and a mean cup of coffee.
Address: Corpo Aobadai 103, 1-14−11 Aobadai, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0042
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Sunday: 12PM – 7PM
– Monday: Closed
RBL CAFE
RBL CAFE is a tranquil book café for those in search of a moment of peace, either to work or to relax. Surrounded by shelves lined with thousands of books, the interior has an organized, sophisticated vibe.
The café has a time-based fee system featuring soothing background music and soft lighting to enhance focus without the discomfort of complete silence. You can lounge in a sofa area or park yourself at a single-seater with a power outlet, depending on what you’re looking to do. The menu consists of coffee, juice, matcha, soda, beer, and a small selection of light snacks.
Address: 5-32-12 Daizawa, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0032
Opening hours:
– Saturday & Sunday: 1PM – 8PM
– Monday to Friday: Closed
Bookstore B&B (Book & Beer)
For a book bar that encourages you to take libations with your literature, look no further than Bookstore B&B. This book bar lets visitors browse a diverse selection of books, including magazines, philosophy, business, classics, and modern literature (all in Japanese). It makes a point of spotlighting lesser-known titles that you won’t normally find in general bookstores.
Its built-in bar serves draft beer, bio wines, non-alcoholic drinks, and coffee, which you can enjoy surrounded by vintage Scandinavian furniture. B&B also regularly hosts events, mainly book launches, but also discussions and even podcasts.
Address: BONUS TRACK 2F, 2-36-15 Daita, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0033
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 12PM – 6:30PM
– Saturday & Sunday: 11AM – 6:30PM
Library in the Earth at Kurkku Fields
Library in the Earth is a unique subterranean library located within Kurkku Fields, an organic farm and cultural hub in Chiba Prefecture. Completed in 2022, the library is built into a hillside, seamlessly blending into the landscape with a grassy lawn rooftop and a winding stone path in its open-air inner courtyard.
While visitors can see most of Kurkku Fields by paying a small entrance fee (about US$3 per person), you can only get access to the library if you have a Kurkku Fields Membership (about US$6, plus the entrance fee when you visit) and make an appointment through the website.
Address: 2503 Yana, Kisarazu, Chiba 292-0812
Opening hours:
– Thursday to Monday: 12PM to 5PM
– Tuesday & Wednesday: Closed
– (Overnight guests staying at Kurkku Fields: 5PM – 11AM)
Kadokawa Culture Museum
Talk about striking an imposing figure: this cultural museum resides in an enormous granite building with a unique geometric design that stands like a sentinel in Tokorozawa Sakura Town. More than a simple museum, it holds a manga library with 37,000 titles, an anime museum, a gallery for art exhibitions, a café, a shop specializing in design goods, and the Bookshelf Theater, where you can enjoy a light show on the dizzyingly tall bookshelves.
The museum is a monument to Japanese pop culture, literature, and art in a way that draws people in and keeps them coming. Just keep in mind that, as with most museums, you do have to pay an admission fee (roughly US$9), plus more if you’re attending a specific event.
Address: Tokorozawa Sakura Town, 3-31-3 Higashitokorozawawada, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-0023
Opening hours:
– Wednesday to Monday: 10AM – 6PM
– Tuesday: Closed
Hakone Honbako
Another book-themed hotel, Hakone Honbako, has more of a minimalist vibe than the other two mentioned on this list, emphasizing the Japanese concept of the beauty of empty space overlooking the quiet majesty of nature.
Opened in August 2018, it offers around 12,000 Japanese titles on mostly lifestyle subjects like clothing, food, and home. Each guest room features a private, open-air, hot spring bath and a personalized, curated bookshelf. The hotel also has a restaurant, a café, and a bookshop.
Address: 1320-491 Gora, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0408
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 3PM
– Check-out time: 11AM
Central Japan (Nagoya, Ishikawa, Toyama)
TSUTAYA Nagoya
Part of the Tsutaya bookstore chain, this particular location is famous for the mirrored ceiling above a staircase with a bookshelf backdrop, creating a very impressive (and Instagrammable) visual for visitors. It was also a nominee for our Most Beautiful Bookstore in the World list a few short months ago.
Nestled inside AEON Mall Nagoya Noritake Garden, this two-level space offers a wide range of books from business and manga to children’s and lifestyle titles, along with a welcoming Kids’ Space. Comfortable seating, gentle lighting and open browsing areas create a calm place to relax and read. With its striking design, in-store café and curated selection, it feels like a modern retreat for readers of all ages.
Address: Japan, 〒451-0051 Aichi, Nagoya, Nishi Ward, Noritakeshinmachi, 3 Chome−１番１７号 イオンモール
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 9PM
Ishikawa Prefectural Library
This library is a different flavor of gorgeous, making sharp use of ancient Greek amphitheater style to create a modern, four-story library that is stunning to behold. Opened in 2022, the Ishikawa Prefectural Library houses over a million books in multiple languages, including a good chunk that’s proudly displayed in a striking circular atrium filled with natural light.
The library features loads of places where people can host talks, workshops, and events. The exterior is also a masterclass in unique and creative design, surrounded by greenery and with bowed-out slats framing large, multi-floor windows.
Address: 2 Chome-43-1 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0942
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Friday: 9AM – 7PM
– Saturday & Sunday: 9AM – 6PM
– Monday: Closed
Kanazawa Umimirai Library
Not too far away is the Kanazawa Umimirai Library, another public library with a very modern design. Opened in 2011, it looks like a giant cheese grater on the outside, but that is done purely for the ethereal effect it has inside for its main reading room, with the hundreds of round windows making it feel like a tranquil forest filled with dappled sunlight.
The design has another, even more important aim: utilizing the shape to implement an advanced heating and ventilation system to ensure visitor comfort.
Address: I-1-1 Teranakacho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0341
Opening hours:
– Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 10AM – 7PM
– Saturday & Sunday: 10AM – 5PM
– Wednesday: Closed
Toyama City Public Library
Toyama City Public Library opened in 2015, and you can tell with a single glance at its unique, staccato exterior that a lot of thought and creativity were put into the design. This is only further emphasized when you find out the interior exclusively uses locally sourced cedar wood.
Its slightly off-center design is a source of fascination, but it doesn’t distract from the warmth of the natural wooden flooring and shelves. The library also hosts art exhibits, which won’t come as a surprise if you know that it shares the building with the Toyama Glass Art Museum, combining artistic innovation with literary culture.
Address: Toyama Kirari 2F, 5-1 Nishicho, Toyama 930-0062
Opening hours:
– Sunday to Thursday: 9:30AM – 7PM
– Friday & Saturday: 9:30AM – 8PM
Western Japan (Osaka, Kochi)
Nakanoshima Children’s Book Forest
This children’s library was designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando with a curved, concrete facade and a whimsical interior seemingly inspired by children’s fantasy books. Located in Nakanoshima Park, it has floor-to-ceiling bookshelves holding around 20,000 books and stairs cutting across multi-level spaces.
Here, you can find round rooms and spaces for individuals and small groups, as well as open layouts with natural lighting that invite exploration through the many titles lining the shelves. The library also regularly hosts events, such as the late-night “Grown-ups book forest” and family-friendly group discussions.
Address: 1 Chome-1-28 Nakanoshima, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0005
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30AM – 5PM
– Monday: Closed
Yusuhara Community Library
Also known as “Library Above the Clouds,” Yusuhara Community Library is reminiscent of a man-made forest hooded by a canopy of branches. It makes extensive use of its high-ceilinged, spacious layout, where visitors can explore the front or climb up the stairs to find themed reading rooms and event spaces.
The library holds many other hidden nooks and surprises (like fantastical dioramas tucked into shelves), and is a cultural hub that both enriches its local community and encourages travelers to stop in.
Address: 1212-2 Yusuhara, Takaoka District, Kochi 785-0610
Opening hours:
– Saturday to Monday, Wednesday & Thursday: 9AM – 8PM
– Tuesday & last Friday of the month: Closed
Northern Japan (Akita)
Nakajima Library at Akita International University
Speaking of libraries that resemble forests, another place that exemplifies this principle can be found on the Akita International University campus. However, instead of evoking the image of a whole forest, the Nakajima Library looks more like an atrium holding a single, massive tree stretching up towards the ceiling, surrounded by a semicircular, coliseum-esque reading room.
The library collection holds over 70,000 items, including both books and digital resources. It’s also open 24/7 to students of the university, making it perfect for study or relaxation any time of day or night.
Address: Okutsubakidai-193-2 Yuwatsubakigawa, Akita, 010-1211
Opening hours:
– 24/7 for students of Akita International University only
Other visitors:
– Monday to Sunday: 10AM – 5PM
