A Quick Guide to Tokyo’s Book Town, Tokyo, Japan

The ever-so distinctive smell of old books is a Floo powder that transports me to my childhood: the water heater in primary school that I spent most winter mornings propped up against, chasing like a second Timmy after Julian, Dick, Anne and George through hidden coves and mysterious lighthouses; my grandmother’s couch, where I lost entire Saturdays exploring the Enchanted Wood and the Faraway Tree; the back seat of our family’s car, where I dedicated long car rides out to the Magaliesburg helping Nancy solve clues; and the most magical place to exist outside of those pages: The Boskruin Library.

It was a wonderful thing, being raised by a mom who loves books as much as I do. I’d get to spend almost every day after school maxing out my library card and weekends nosing through new and used book shops. Which is why, when I read about an entire neighbourhood dedicated to books in Tokyo, I had to go check it out.

Foreign books, or yousho (洋書), are difficult come by in the inaka – I’m genuinely suprised when I find any that take up more than a shelf here in Miyazaki. Sure, there’s always Amazon, but it’s just not the same as shopping in a store. By contrast, Jinbōchō (神保町), sometimes spelled Jimbōchō, is home to over 170 publishing houses and bookshops that offer an impressive selection of both Japanese literature and yousho. And the best part? The majority of the books are second-hand (read: cheap). ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).