DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
2026.07.27
A Long-Established Bookstore for Antiquarian Foreign-Language Books, Beloved in Jimbocho, Tokyo’s Book Town
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"KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" is a long-established bookstore beloved in Jimbocho, Tokyo’s renowned book town. Specializing in antiquarian foreign-language books, particularly British and American literature, it also offers a wide selection of works on philosophy, thought, art, cultural anthropology, and many other subjects. The store attracts many visitors from overseas. Inspired by a private study, the interior is a calm space filled with the soft glow of downlights, plush carpeting, and a subtle aroma. The bookstore also runs "KITAZAWA DISPLAY BOOKS," an initiative that presents beautifully bound antiquarian foreign-language books as elements of interior design.
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Lined with antiquarian bookstores, Jimbocho is a neighborhood in central Tokyo where visitors can feel as though they have stepped into the world of books. In recent years, it has also attracted growing international attention. In 2025, it was ranked No. 1 on Time Out's list of the "Coolest Neighborhoods in the World." While best known as Tokyo's book town, Jimbocho has also been recognized for its rich mix of cultures, with kissaten, curry restaurants, galleries, and more.
Long beloved in Jimbocho, "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" is one of the area's few bookstores specializing in antiquarian foreign-language books, particularly British and American literature.
The bookstore was founded in 1902 by the first-generation owner, the great-grandfather of the current fourth-generation owner, Rika. At the time, it specialized primarily in Japanese literature. Later, the second-generation owner temporarily left the bookstore and, while working in a position that made use of his English skills, became familiar with Western thought and culture. This experience led him to actively expand the bookstore's collection of foreign-language books. Today, the bookstore's collection centers on literary works from the United Kingdom and the United States, while also featuring literature from Russia, France, Italy, and many other countries. It also carries a wide range of antiquarian foreign-language books on philosophy, thought, linguistics, art, and cultural anthropology.
"KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" also houses out-of-print and first-edition books that are now difficult to find even overseas, many of them preserved in excellent condition. Some visitors travel from abroad specifically to find these rare volumes. It is a place where visitors can discover rare antiquarian foreign-language books in a wide variety of languages—all without leaving Jimbocho.
Located on the second floor of a building, "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" welcomes visitors with an entrance featuring striking blue floral wallpaper, creating the feeling of stepping into the private study of a Western-style house.
A children's bookstore occupies the first floor. Enter through the doorway beside it and head upstairs to reach "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE."
The upper shelves display the colorful Everyman's Library series, a collection of classic British and American literature. British and American literature is the bookstore's signature genre and its most popular category. The lower shelves are lined with books on Western architecture and art.
The shelves are lined with foreign-language books on the humanities, including literary criticism, philosophy, linguistics, and religious studies.
The philosophy section is filled with books in substantial bindings.
Books about Japan are also popular as souvenirs, with titles covering subjects such as classical literature, history, and art. Among them, books on Japanese yokai (supernatural beings from Japanese folklore) are especially popular and often sell out soon after arriving.
Displayed in the store is a photograph of "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" before it was rebuilt into its current building, when it was still a single-story shop. At that time, the bookstore specialized primarily in Japanese literature and was frequented by many university students. The photograph offers a glimpse into the bookstore's long history.
As one of the few bookstores in Jimbocho specializing in antiquarian foreign-language books, "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" also takes particular care in creating its interior atmosphere. Inside, the store is softly illuminated by warm downlights. Substantial bookshelves stand on plush carpeting that gently muffles the sound of footsteps. Antiquarian foreign-language books of varying sizes and thicknesses are carefully arranged, with each volume pulled slightly forward so that the spines form an even line.
“Most bookstores probably use lighting that makes every book clearly visible, but we use downlights to create the calm atmosphere of a private study. Arranging the books so that their spines line up takes a little extra effort, but we do it because we want the books to look their best,” says Rika, the fourth-generation owner.
A subtle fragrance also drifts through the store.
“I love the distinctive scent of old books, but I also wanted visitors to remember this bookstore by its fragrance, so we use an aroma diffuser. The scent lingers on the books, so I hope that whenever someone opens one, it will remind them of this place,” says Rika.
The store’s approach to creating a space that appeals to all five senses has been well received. Rika is often delighted to hear people say, “I can immediately tell that this book was bought at ‘KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE.’” Some customers even bring back books they have treasured and read over the years, asking for them to be placed on the shelves of "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" once again.
The bookstore is gently enveloped in the orange glow of the downlights.
At the same time, one wall is lined with windows that allow natural light to enter, creating a comfortable atmosphere that feels calm without being enclosed.
Illuminated by the downlights, even the bargain shelves have an atmospheric quality that makes every book look appealing.
Viewed from an angle, the shelves reveal that each book has been pulled slightly forward, with volumes of every size and thickness carefully arranged so that their spines line up neatly.
One corner of the bookstore, where rare books are kept, feels as though you have wandered into someone’s private study, creating a sense of escape from everyday life.
Visitors are welcome to photograph the book bindings and the interior of the store. Rika hopes they will capture the extraordinary atmosphere of "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" as a lasting memory.
Beyond its carefully designed atmosphere, "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" offers thoughtful touches that encourage visitors to take their time choosing a book. One of these is a handwritten recommendation tag added by Rika, the fourth-generation owner, to the endpaper of each book. Written in simple English, each tag includes a recommendation or a short message for whoever picks up the book. These notes reveal qualities that cannot be discovered from the title or binding alone, making browsing feel a little like a treasure hunt. The warmth of handwriting also comes through in each carefully written message. This kind of thoughtful attention to detail is one of the reasons "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" continues to attract devoted fans.
In addition to the handwritten recommendation tags attached to the endpapers, the price labels, which include the price and bibliographic information, are also handwritten. They show how carefully each book is prepared before being placed on the shelves.
Among the occult-related books that Rika has been adding to the collection because of her personal interest in the genre, one of her recommendations is The Book of Thoth (Egyptian Tarot) (1985) by British occultist Aleister Crowley (9,900yen), a guide to tarot.
Its vivid blue cover and fantastical illustrations immediately catch the eye, while the pages featuring tarot card designs look almost like works of art.
This foreign-language book features gilt decoration even along the edges of its pages. Rarely seen in Japan, this distinctive detail gives the book a presence unique to foreign-language editions. Paradise Lost, illustrated by Gustave Doré (1984), by John Milton (25,795yen)
The striking cover belongs to Monumenta Nipponica (2,420yen), an English-language journal of Japanese studies published by Sophia University. It is one of the foreign-language books about Japan that is popular with visitors from overseas.
The striking cover belongs to Monumenta Nipponica (¥2,420), an English-language journal of Japanese studies published by Sophia University. It is one of the foreign-language books about Japan that is popular with visitors from overseas.
Two types of bags are available for taking purchases home: a casual plastic bag (left, 110yen) and a sturdy paper bag (right, 330yen).
The bookmark (792 yen) features the floral pattern used on the wallpaper at the entrance to “KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE,” giving it a striking design.
In addition to books, "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" also has a corner featuring vintage collectibles. Small, easy-to-carry items such as vintage Japanese postage stamps, vintage matchbox labels with charming retro designs, and French-made pins are especially popular as souvenirs. Among them, the vintage matchbox labels are particularly distinctive. They were originally distributed at restaurants, hotels, and other establishments during the Taisho (1912–1926) and Showa (1926–1989) periods. Because they also served as advertisements, they offer a glimpse into the graphic design of their era, making them especially appealing. They are also popular among collectors. At "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE," each vintage item is carefully packaged and displayed with the same care given to the antiquarian books.
The vintage matchbox labels (880yen each) are displayed after being carefully separated from their original matchboxes.
The French-made pins (2,200yen each) are also popular. Some customers from France have even purchased them, commenting on how well preserved they are.
Used vintage Japanese postage stamps (550yen each), complete with postal cancellation marks, are also carefully packaged.
"KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" also launched an initiative called "KITAZAWA DISPLAY BOOKS," which showcased the appeal of antiquarian foreign-language books through interior design. The service proposed antiquarian foreign-language books as decorative elements for a variety of spaces. It was launched by Rika after she succeeded as the fourth-generation owner, drawing on the experience she gained during nearly ten years in the fashion industry. The books were used in a wide range of settings, including film and television productions, retail stores, and showrooms. According to Rika, one of the bookstore's greatest strengths was its ability to recommend books based not only on the beauty of their bindings but also on their content—something only a specialized antiquarian bookstore could offer. Beautifully bound antiquarian foreign-language books, striking enough to serve as display pieces, are also popular with visitors from overseas as souvenirs. Although the "KITAZAWA DISPLAY BOOKS" consultation service has now ended, beautifully bound antiquarian foreign-language books are still available for purchase at the bookstore.
Books with intricate decoration extending even to their spines make striking display pieces. Some visitors say that seeing books arranged by color inspires them to create similar bookshelves in their own homes.
Although she grew up in "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE," Rika first pursued a career in the fashion industry before returning to succeed as the fourth-generation owner. That experience can be seen throughout the bookstore, from its carefully designed interior to the way the books are displayed.
Rika's father, the third-generation owner, still works at the bookstore today. Their warm hospitality makes "KITAZAWA BOOKSTORE" a place to experience with all five senses.
The information in this article is current as of July 27, 2026 (at the time of publication).
