Local Secret · Jimbocho

Jimbocho Book Town 神保町古書店街

Around 130 secondhand bookshops on Yasukuni-dori and its lanes: rare prints, art books, manga, vintage maps and ukiyo-e, plus a famous curry and coffee scene.

HoursShops ~10:00–18:30

ClosedMany shops closed Sunday and holidays

PriceFree

Getting thereJimbocho Station (Hanzomon/Shinjuku/Mita), Exit A7, 1 min

Time needed2–3 hours

Best timeWeekday afternoon

AddressKanda Jimbocho 1–2-chome, Chiyoda City, Tokyo

About

Jimbocho is the world's largest concentration of used bookstores, specialising by topic: woodblock prints at Ohya Shobo, art and photography, film, Western books, vintage manga and magazines. Shops face north so the sun doesn't fade their stock. Between browsing, locals eat curry (Jimbocho has a famous curry culture: Bondy, Ethiopia, Kitchen Nankai) and retreat to old kissaten such as Sabouru and Ladrio. In late October-early November the Kanda Used Book Festival fills the sidewalks with stalls.

Highlights

Around 130 specialist secondhand bookshops
Ohya Shobo: original ukiyo-e and antique maps
Curry houses (Bondy, Ethiopia) and old kissaten (Sabouru)
Kanda Used Book Festival in late Oct–early Nov

Tips

Many shops close Sundays and holidays
Cash-only shops are common
Sabouru's strawberry juice and Napolitan pasta are a local ritual

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

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Jimbocho Book Town 神保町古書店街

About

Highlights

Tips

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