Wandering Jimbōchō Book Town in Tokyo: Voted “World’s Coolest Neighborhood”
Jimbōchō, nicknamed Tokyo’s Book Town, is an underrated neighborhood tucked quietly in the heart of central Tokyo that has silently attracted Tokyoites and literary lovers for decades. 📚
But now, Jimbōchō (also known as Kanda Jimbocho, or Jinbōchō), with its 130+ second-hand bookstores, cozy curry restaurants, and quirky-cool spots — from cat-themed shops to underground classical music coffee shops to quirky theaters — has gained international attention thanks to Time Out Magazine crowning it no. 1 on its list of the world’s coolest neighborhoods.
Having spent nearly a year in Tokyo, I’ve wandered through Jimbocho a few times in search of unusual finds.
And having just returned, I’ve found that Jimbocho can retain its historic charm despite growing in popularity.
There is a lot about Jimbocho that I still have to learn, but for now, here is my neighborhood guide for first-timers.
Below, I’ve included bookshops and stores that deserve your attention, places to pop down for a bite (that feel special to the area), and a selection of side streets I’ve discovered that feel off the beaten path.
What & Where Is Jimbocho, Tokyo’s Book Town?
Jimbocho is centrally located in Tokyo but is often overlooked. It’s a district of Chiyoda City, located snug to the north of the Imperial Palace and slightly west of Akihabara.
It’s considered, lovingly so, as Tokyo’s ‘Book Town’ for obvious reasons. Books! Books galore. Used books, mostly, in Japanese, by the way. But a lot of French books and interesting finds.
You can reach Jimbocho Station easily via the Tokyo Metro: I Mita Line, S Shinjuku Line, or Z Hanzōmon Line. I took the Chiyoda (green) Line from Nezu, where I was staying, and walked the remaining 10 minutes from Shin-ochanomizu Station.
In Jimbocho, the best thing to do is simply to be curious: browse bookstores, eat curry, drink specialty coffee, and just enjoy a quieter side of Tokyo.
It’s a dream for photography lovers, too — I could just spend hours here wandering around and snapping the street shelves as the light and shadows change across them over the day.
Jimbocho’s Bookstores & Side Streets to Wander
I’ve run into a problem with this guide: With well over 100+ bookstores in Jimbocho, how can I possibly list even a fraction of them and still call this a proper guide?
I simply couldn’t. There’s not enough time in my day to individually seek out and sort the best bookstores in Jimbocho. Plus, many of the bookstores here also sell magazines, art, vintage postcards, DVDs, and a whole other category of unusual odds and ends.
Those curious enough to linger and decipher Japanese will be rewarded. I walked away having bought a mameneko cat t-shirt from a cat-only themed bookshop on the corner (mentioned below).
So, that said, here are just a few bookstores in Jimbocho that I stepped into and found curious, cute, or simply interesting, that you may want to start with (before adventuring into more on your own!):
- Suwaguchi Bookstore — This one is cute, be sure to go up to the 2nd floor. You can sit and have a vending machine coffee while looking or reading a book.
- Yaguchi Bookstore — Right to the left of Suwaguchi, with the added unique characteristic of sidewalk bookshelves (it’s located on a street corner). This is a cute one, too. The sign says it’s been in business since 1904.
- Kitazawa — Also located on the main drag, Kitazawa is better known for having English books and rare books. It is also one of the long-enduring bookstores in Jimbocho, since 1902, but with more space and a modern feel.
- Anegawa Nyankodo — The cat-themed bookstore I found by happy accident, my first time in Jimbocho (and where I bought my t-shirt). It’s run by very sweet owners. No books in English.
There are many more hidden stores and shops on the streets running parallel (both top and down) to the main avenue, particularly along Sakura-dori and Kanda Suzuran St.
Hotels in Jimbocho for a Slower Stay
Book-themed hotels? Yes, Jimbocho has those too.
For a unique stay in the heart of Tokyo, that’s certainly quieter than the major hubs like Ginza, Shibuya, or Shinjuku, consider staying in Jimbocho.
Top choices for Jimbocho hotels:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
$-$$
A comfy, no-frills hotel located right on the main street by Jimbocho Station. Each floor has a curated selection of books and a themed library!
Book here
⭐️⭐️⭐️
$$+
Clean, spacious, and modern Western-style hotel rooms, located right in the heart of Jimbocho between Jimbocho and Shin-ochanomizu Stations.
Book here
⭐️⭐️👍
$+
International-style cafe and hotel located right behind the main street, ideal for solo travelers or those on a backpacker budget, with budget bunkbed rooms.
Book here
Overall, Jimbocho is a really good area of Tokyo to stay in. It’s convenient, with several metro line connections and dozens of good Japanese food options, and it’s quiet, local, and not at all crowded.
You’ll also be quite close to Ueno, Akihabara, Yanesen (the Nezu + Yanaka area), Tokyo Station (a major transport hub, especially for the Shinkansen), and the museums and parks around the Imperial Palace.
Quirky Finds & Things to Do in Jimbocho Beyond Books
Yes — books are why most travelers come to Jimbocho. But what’s interesting is that it attracts not only literary lovers but also artists, musicians, and antique collectors.
I’ve also had a seriously good cup of specialty coffee in Jimbocho, too.
Basically, if you wander the 3-4 streets running both north and south of the main road, you’ll stumble upon very cute, and very hidden, cafes, eateries, underground gems, and even the Yoshimoto Mazai Theatre.
One such gem I’ve found is Cafe Ataraxia, an underground cafe serving premium coffee where classical music is played on a vintage 1926 Credenza gramophone.
Another nostalgic find I’ve returned to twice for bites and drinks with friends is Boro. Housed in an old building and run by Gallery Kogure, Boro feels very Showa-era, with art, dark interiors, cozy lamp lighting, a small but yummy menu, and signature dishes like their sugar skull cookies.
If you are able to snag a reservation (or build up the patience to queue for a while), then check out Sabouru. The first time I came across this place, I was so intrigued by its tiki statues and jungly atmosphere, as if a lost treasure just been found in the heart of Tokyo… Fun!
Finally, curry, for reasons I’m not sure, is apparently the thing to eat in Jimbocho, and many indie bookstores rub shoulders with a next-door curry house.
Two worth noting are Curry Bondy and Kitchen Nankai — both of which I have yet to wrangle down the patience to wait in line for. But oh man, do they smell good!
Is Jimbocho Really Tokyo’s ‘Coolest Neighborhood’? My Thoughts
In my opinion, Jimbocho is definitely worth carving out a couple of hours for, if only to peruse the bookshelves displayed on the streets (which is very unique to the area) and get inspired by the act of collecting books but never reading them, a feeling, a concept that the Japanese coined tsundoku (積ん読).
Would I consider it the world’s coolest? That’s a tough vote, but it’s definitely unique to Tokyo and stands the test of time.
Moreso, I think it’s perfect for slow travelers, or solo travelers in Tokyo who want a bit more peace and quiet away from the crowded hubs.
What do you think? Take a peek inside this Time Out YouTube video to take a virtual tour of Jimbocho!
