DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
2026.01.22
A large-scale foreign-language bookstore offering approximately 120,000 imported books and magazines
Nearest Station
Founded in 1927, Kinokuniya is a major bookstore chain operating approximately 70 stores across Japan and around 40 overseas. Books Kinokuniya Tokyo is the only store in Japan dedicated exclusively to foreign-language books—publications written in languages other than Japanese. Located on a single expansive floor of Takashimaya Times Square South Building near the South Exit of Shinjuku Station, the store houses approximately 120,000 imported books and magazines. In addition to English-language titles, the store offers books in a wide range of languages including French, Italian, Korean, and Vietnamese. It is a place where visitors can experience international publishing trends and cultural movements while remaining in Japan.
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Founded in 1927, Kinokuniya is a major bookstore chain operating around 70 stores in Japan and approximately 40 overseas. Among them, Books Kinokuniya Tokyo is the only location in Japan specializing exclusively in foreign-language books. Since opening as a foreign-language specialty store in 2016, the shop has occupied a single expansive floor of roughly 300 tsubo (approximately 990 square meters), offering around 120,000 imported books and magazines.
Situated on one floor of Takashimaya Times Square South Building, directly connected to the South Exit of Shinjuku Station, the store is highly accessible. Overseas travelers, international residents of Tokyo, and Japanese readers interested in learning foreign languages gather here, making it a place where multiple languages and cultures intersect. The staff consists of multilingual professionals with extensive knowledge of foreign-language books.
A bright and spacious single floor covering about 1,090 square meters.
Located inside Takashimaya Times Square South Building, just a short walk from the South Exit of Shinjuku Station. The building bearing the Kinokuniya name serves as a clear landmark.
“I come here about once a week to check newspapers, magazines, and new fiction releases,” says Richard, a regular customer. He also enjoys chatting with the English-speaking staff.
One of the defining features of Books Kinokuniya Tokyo is its finely detailed genre classification, inspired by overseas bookstores. In addition to broad categories such as Fiction, Manga, and Magazines, the store further subdivides sections by genre—Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, and more—making it easy to locate specific titles. There are also age-based sections such as “CHILDREN” and “YOUNG ADULT,” aimed at middle and high school readers. This layout allows visitors to browse smoothly, much like in a large international bookstore.
Even within the Fiction category, books are further divided into genres such as Romance and Fantasy/Horror.
The lively “CHILDREN” section, decorated with garlands, offers a wide selection of picture books.
The “YOUNG ADULT” section sits next to the “Graphic Novel” area. Graphic novels are long-form, comic-style works known for their literary and artistic depth, covering themes such as history and biography that appeal to readers of all ages.
The art section features large-format art books and photography collections.
Fantasy novels with vividly designed sprayed edges. Such decorative bindings are a current trend in foreign publishing and are rarely seen in Japanese books.
With the aim of serving people of many nationalities living in Japan, Books Kinokuniya Tokyo offers a wide range of books in languages other than English. Titles are available in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and more. This is made possible through direct sourcing by Kinokuniya’s dedicated buyer division. Popular titles are often stocked in multiple editions, such as American and British versions. The presence of multilingual books also highlights differences in publishing trends and cultural perspectives across countries.
The Vietnamese-language section, which continues to expand each year due to growing demand.
Vietnamese editions of major works by Haruki Murakami are also available.
American (left) and British (right) editions of the popular fantasy novel “KATABASIS” by an American author. Simply comparing the cover designs is part of the enjoyment.
The globally popular Chinese BL novel “Heaven Official’s Blessing” (Tian Guan Ci Fu) is also available in multiple languages.
One genre currently attracting global attention is “Japanese fiction.” The section features acclaimed works of Japanese literature, including “BUTTER” by Asako Yuzuki, which won a literary award in the UK. This corner draws significant interest from visitors. Particularly popular is a genre known as “healing fiction,” a style of literature that soothes the reader and offers emotional comfort and warmth. Japan’s gentle language and subtle emotional expression have been highly regarded overseas. Being able to discover such global literary trends while in Japan is one of the unique appeals of Books Kinokuniya Tokyo.
A special display featuring notable Japanese literary works.
“BUTTER” by Asako Yuzuki is a socially themed novel that left a strong impression of Japanese literature on the global stage.
“THE NIGHT OF BABAYAGA” by Akira Otani received the prestigious Dagger Award, one of the most respected prizes in the mystery fiction world.
“Before the coffee gets cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, widely recognized as healing fiction. It ranked among Books Kinokuniya Tokyo’s bestsellers in the first half of 2025.
The manga section also stands out for its extensive selection, rarely seen in other bookstores. From popular titles to deluxe collector’s editions of classics, the lineup is remarkably broad. A major highlight of this section is the handwritten recommendation cards created by Japanese staff members fluent in English. Drawing on their deep knowledge of manga, staff select works they personally wish to recommend and introduce them thoughtfully using writing inspired by overseas bookstores.
Due to increasing demand, the manga section is scheduled for further expansion.
Staff members create handwritten recommendation cards for both new releases and classic titles.
Overseas, collector’s editions that compile several volumes into one are common. The deluxe edition of “BERSERK” by Kentaro Miura features a particularly striking cover design.
A vividly colored overseas edition of “UZUMAKI” by Junji Ito.
The popular “Original Stamp” corner, also found in other Kinokuniya stores, remains a favorite. Customers often stamp their purchased books as a keepsake or use the stamps on self-service book covers.
The origami bookmark service is another initiative unique to Books Kinokuniya Tokyo.
This article was updated on January 22, 2026 (at the time of publication)
