Strolling through a maze of literary treasures. Welcome to Kanda Book Town. It is more than just a district. Kanda Book Town is a living monument to the written word.
This area is also known as Jinbōchō Book Town. This place boasts the highest concentration of used bookstores in the world. Imagine, roughly one-third of all secondhand bookstores in Japan reside here.
The story of Kanda Book Town begins after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Universities like the University of Tokyo and Meiji University established campuses nearby. These institutions attracted bookstores. They catered to professors and students with textbooks and academic materials.
The area transformed into a student district. Then the 1930s saw the rise of the one yen books. These cheap paperbacks made books accessible to the public. This boosted the secondhand book market and Kanda Book Town thrived.
By 2009, Kanda Book Town had around 150 secondhand bookstores. As of 2021, there are 176 used bookstores.
However, the rise of online shopping in the 2010s brought challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced about 90 percent of the bookstores to temporarily close.
Despite these challenges, Kanda Book Town remains a vital cultural hub. It houses headquarters for major Japanese publishing companies. Shogakukan, Shueisha, and Iwanami Shoten all have a presence here. Iwanami Shoten established its headquarters in 1913. They also operate their flagship bookstore here.
Several universities still maintain campuses in the area. Nihon University, Hosei University, and Senshu University are among them.
As you explore Kanda Book Town, notice the concentration of bookstores. They line Yasukuni-dori Avenue and Hakusan-dori Avenue. You can arrive here via Ochanomizu Station or Jimbōchō Station.
Many shops display their discounted items on open-air bookshelves. The scent of well-aged paper fills the air. Each bookstore specializes in specific genres. Classic literature, philosophy, art, and rare antiquarian books abound.
Don’t miss the Sanseido Bookstore flagship store. Founded here, it is now a nationwide chain. Also, visit Oya Shoten. It carries books dating back to the Edo era. Check out their old maps of Japan.
Step into Tokyodo Bookstore. Enjoy coffee with unlimited refills at their Paper Press Cafe. For photography and art books, Komiyama Shoten is a must.
Isseido Shoten is one of the few buildings that survived World War II. Admire the collectible prints from the Meiji and Edo periods. Iwanami Shoten also has an Art Postcard Gallery.
Kanda Book Town is more than a collection of bookstores. It is a testament to the enduring power of books. It is a place where history, culture, and literature converge. Take your time. Explore the stacks. Discover hidden gems in Kanda Book Town.