Tokyo, Japan has some amazing bookstores. With whole neighborhoods dedicated to books (Jinbocho) in Tokyo, there’s no shortage of places to browse for your next best read. But finding a good selection of English books at Tokyo bookstores can be a bit more challenging! Unsurprisingly, most Japanese bookstores have little to no foreign-language books available. That’s why I wanted to highlight the few Tokyo bookstores that stand out for their English book selection!
These are my top Tokyo bookstores I know and love for browsing and buying English language books, including new release novels, translated Japanese literature, coffee table books, magazines, and secondhand gems. Some of these bookstores have smaller English sections than others, but are still worth mentioning for their beautifully curated bookstore-browsing experience.
Whether you are looking for a new English-language paperback for your train commute, a coffee table book, or a bookish souvenir from Tokyo, these are some of the best bookstores in Tokyo for English books.
1. Books Kinokuniya Tokyo, Shinjuku South
Let’s start with an all-English bookstore in Tokyo: Books Kinokuniya Tokyo in Shinjuku! Books Kinokunya Tokyo is the first place I recommend for people who are simply looking for English books in Tokyo. Located inside Shinjuku Takashimaya Times Square (south of Shinjuku station), this branch offers almost exclusively English language books, with a strong selection of books in French, Chinese, Korean, and German as well.
It only spans a single floor, but it’s a great place to look for new-release and popular fiction and non-fiction books in English. They also have multiple shelves of Japanese literature in translation, Japanese travel books and language-learning books. What makes this place special is it also has English-language magazines, manga, cookbooks and coffee table books, and a dedicated children’s book section. Find their floor map here.
Their location near Shinjuku Station, a major hub in Tokyo, also makes it a convenient location for a quick drop-in.
You can check their Instagram page for latest releases, book signings, and information on sales.
Tip: Don’t get confused with the second Kinokuniya in Shinjuku which is called the “Main Store”, the English-language Kinokuniya is located in Shinjuku Takashimaya, south of Shinjuku Station!
2. Maruzen Marunouchi
Maruzen Marunouchi is another one of Tokyo’s most convenient large bookstores with English books, located inside the Marunouchi Oazo complex connected to Tokyo Station. With four floors of books it is big, polished, and easy to visit before catching a shinkansen or while exploring the Tokyo Station area.
Maruzen is a bookstore chain with locations across Japan, but the Tokyo locations (including the flagship Marunouchi store and the original Nihonbashi location) are two of the largest.
I was shocked with the English book selection in Maruzen Marunouchi (4th floor), which includes everything from children’s books to classics, business and economics books to philosophy books, plays, cookbooks, and of course popular fiction and Japanese literature in translation.
The tall bookshelves and standalone, themed showcases (Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, Agatha Christe) the store an atmosphere that makes you want to browse for hours. There are even two cafes on-site and a pay-per-use lounge and coworking space, all perfect places to settle in with a new book. Check out their floor map here.
The Marunouchi store also has its own English Instagram account showcasing new book and stationary releases, including cute British-themed stationery and souvenirs.
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- Find a cool and unique hotel – Coolest Hotels in Tokyo
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- Live in luxury at Tokyo’s top hotels – Best 5-Star Hotels in Tokyo
- Stay somewhere spacious and family-friendly – Best Tokyo Hotels for Families
3. Infinity Books Japan
Infinity Books Japan is another English language bookstore in Tokyo that I love to support. It’s an independent Tokyo bookstore and event space, perfect for browsing used English books, making new friends, and finding and hidden gem books.
Located in Sumida near Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree, it has a much more casual, independent feel than the big bookstore chains.
The shop stocks hundreds of new and used English books including novels, classics, non-fiction, children’s books, and harder-to-find titles. Infinity Books is also a good option if you live in Tokyo and want to buy, sell, or exchange English books rather than always buying new ones.
Check out their Instagram for latest releases, events and other updates.
4. Maruzen Nihonbashi
Maruzen Nihonbashi is another Tokyo bookstore I frequent that has a slightly old-school, literary feel. It’s the first Maruzen location in Tokyo, that was founded in 1869! The bookstore today is spread across four floors and features pop-up stores and events, rare books, a cafe, and a large stationary section too.
Alongside English novels and general non-fiction, it is also a good place to look for books about Japan, design, business, history, and Japanese culture.
This branch is nice to visit if you are staying east of Tokyo Station or are doing other department store shopping in Nihonbashi. It’s also one block away from the huge Pokemon Center Tokyo DX and Pokemon Cafe.
5. Junkudo Ikebukuro
Junkudo Ikebukuro is another one of Tokyo’s largest bookstores, taking up an entire 10-story building in Ikebukuro. Most of the store is dedicated to Japanese-language books, but the 6th floor has a foreign-language section where you can find several shelves of popular English novels, non-fiction, and books related to Japan.
The bookstore also has an on-site cafe and plenty of places to sit and read. Since Ikebukuro has several universities and is popular with students, the store has a studious feel, with plenty of people browsing the shelves or settling in with a book.
Junkudo Ikebukuro is a good option for visiting a Tokyo bookstore with English books if you are already in Ikebukuro and want a huge Japanese bookstore experience rather than a boutique bookshop.
Check the floor map here.
6. Ogaki Bookstore
Ogaki Bookstore at Azabudai Hills is a newer addition to Tokyo’s bookstore scene and the Kyoto-based bookstore’s first Tokyo location. It is a beautifully designed bookstore with a small bar-style cafe, gallery space, and a carefully selected book selection.
The English book selection is smaller than the other stores on this list, but it has a solid variety of new and popular English fiction books, Japanese literature in translation, paperback classics, books on Japan travel, and English coffee table books related to art, movies, architecture and design.
Ogaki Bookstore is especially worth visiting if you are already exploring Azabudai Hills and TeamLab Borderless, or are in the Roppongi area. Similar to Ginza Tsutaya and Daikanyama T-site below, it’s a bookstore that makes you feel like a trendy Tokyo-ite to be browsing there.
Check out their Instagram here.
7. Daikanyama T-Site / Tsutaya Books
Daikanyama T-Site is probably Tokyo’s most famous “destination bookstore”, located in the stylish Daikanyama neighborhood south of Shibuya. The bookstore complex is spread across multiple stylish buildings and is designed as a place to linger with art books and magazines. A bakery, cafe, convenience store, Starbucks, and lifestyle goods store are located in the same complex as well, linked together by an outdoor terrace.
The English book selection is not as extensive as the above-mentioed Kinokuniya or Maruzen, but it’s often recommended as a must-visit spot for book lovers in Tokyo because of the beautiful design of the building. Daikanyama T-Site’s primary focus is art, architecture, and design books, but it’s also a decent place to browse for English books on Japan and new fiction bestsellers.
It is especially worth visiting if you’re already in the area visiting the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, or the Nakameguro and Ebisu neighborhoods nearby.
8. Kitazawa Bookstore
Kitazawa Bookstore is my favorite bookstore in Jinbocho, Tokyo’s impressive ‘book town’. It’s a beautiful, old-timey bookstore that specializes in vintage and rare English books, with a focus on classic literature, philosophy, academic books, and rare titles.
This is the kind of bookstore where you go to browse slowly and admire the beautiful hardcover books, rather than search for the latest bestseller.
The atmosphere at Kitazawa bookstore is part of the appeal: the building opened in 1902 and features tall wooden shelves, beautiful hardcover editions, and that feeling of being surrounded by books with history. For me, it’s hard not to want to buy everything they post on their Instagram account.
A true bibliophile visiting Tokyo shouldn’t miss this Tokyo bookstore with English books!
Looking for other things to do in Tokyo?
- Read up on my Tokyo itinerary – The Perfect Three Days in Tokyo Itinerary
- Check out the highlights – Top Things To Do In Tokyo
- See Tokyo’s weird and quirky side – 50 Weird And Unique Things To Do In Tokyo
- Learn where to escape the crowds – Off-The-Beaten-Path Places In Tokyo
- Get out of the city for a day – Best Day Trips From Tokyo
- Gain some elevation over Tokyo – Six Amazing Tokyo Viewpoints
9. Isseido Booksellers
Isseido Booksellers is another iconic Jinbocho bookstore. It’s known for rare, secondhand, and antiquarian books. It’s a must-visit bookstore in Tokyo for rare book collectors and bibliophiles. It has a long history having opened in 1931. It also has a more scholarly feel with books on art, Asian history, maps and atlases, and some foreign-language titles too.
Isseido Booksellers is less of a casual paperback shop and more of a place for book collectors, researchers, and people who love old and history-filled bookstores. Even if you don’t end up buying anything, it’s a wonderful stop to experience the Jimbocho neighborhood’s traditional book culture.
Check out their floor guide here to get a feel for their impressive book collection.
10. Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore
Last but not least – Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore. This is the bookstore in Tokyo that I visit the most because of its beautiful design. Located on the top floor of the flashy Ginza Six department store, it’s popular on social media as one of the most visually impressive bookstores in Tokyo.
Although the English book section is limited to those about Japanese culture, Japan travel, design and architecture, the rest of the bookstore has a strong focus on art books, photography, design and coffee table books. It’s such a cool bookstore that I just couldn’t leave it off this list!
This is not where I would go for a standard English paperback novel, but it’s a great place to browse if you want a special book souvenir from Japan. The store also has an attached art gallery and museum, a Japanese luxury souvenir section, as well as a large Starbucks, making it a nice rest stop if you are already shopping in Ginza as part of your Tokyo itinerary.
Other information for finding English books and bookstores in Tokyo
Maruzen and Junkudo, of the same parent company, have a dedicated website for its foreign and imported books. The website lists all of their stores across Japan too, if you’re looking for bookstores outside of Tokyo with English-language books.
Kinokuniya also has a directory where you can browse their book selection online before you visit in-store (try searching both English and Japanese title names).
Book Off, Japan’s major secondhand bookstore chain, sometimes has a small, used, English book section (usually just one or two shelves). I would treat it more as a bonus bookshelf browse rather than a destination, because the selection is often limited to older paperbacks, textbooks, and random titles. Still, it can be worth a quick look if you are already passing by a Book Off branch.
Are You Prepared For Your Trip To Japan?
Be sure to check out my Japan home page for Japan travel information, insider tips, reading list, and must-haves for traveling to Japan!
- Book Your Flights – To find the cheapest flights, flexibility is key. I use both Google Flights for their low fare calendar, and Skiplagged, which uses airfare loopholes to get the lowest prices. For a trip to Japan, check flights to both Tokyo airports (Haneda, Narita) and to Osaka (Kansai).
- Getting Around Japan: Prepare your JR Pass and Suica transit card before you depart.
- Book Your Accommodation – Check out Booking.com for the largest selection of accommodation in Japan. Consider having a bit of fun at one of these Weirdest Hotels in Japan too 🙂
- Book Local Excursions – Don’t miss out on world-class experiences, like Teamlab Borderless or Tokyo Disneyland, by booking tickets online now. Check GetYourGuide and Klook for fun experiences all around Japan.
- Stay Connected: Order a pocket WiFi for airport pickup if you’re traveling with family or with a large group. Solo traveling to Japan? Order a SIM card just for you.
- Pack Your Essentials – Check out my posts about Long Term Travel Gear, and Carry-On Luggage Packing Essentials.
- Read more on my Travel Resources page!
