Tokyo’s Book Town selected as the coolest city in the world for 2025
Jinbocho (神保町) in TOKYO was selected as the coolest city in the world for 2025 by the global information platform Time Out.
After hearing that news, I immediately went for a casual stroll around Jimbocho.
You can get off at Jimbocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line, Toei Mita Line, or Tokyo Metro.
The moment you arrive on the platform of Toei Shinhuku Line, you’ll feel excited — the walls on the platform are decorated with a bookshelf pattern!
Go explore and find your favorite secondhand bookstore!
It is said that there are about 130 bookstores within walking distance of the station, but what makes this town truly special is that you can hunt for old books and magazines. For book lovers, it’s just like a treasure hunt!
Here’s one of my favorite bookstores! Sadly, I just discovered that it will be closing at the end of 2025 due to the old building.
▶ magnif zinebocho
A cute little shop that sells old magazines from Japan and abroad.
The shop is super stylish and a fantastic spot to find the hottest trends from every era. It’s really sad to see it closing.
A cozy town with a rich coffee culture
Jimbocho is well known as a book town, but it’s also famous for its great coffee and cozy café culture.
Last week, I stepped into a café dedicated to jazz music.
Surrounded by smooth jazz melodies and a delicious slice of cheesecake, I felt completely relaxed and refreshed.
▶ JAZZ INCUS COFFEE
Last week, I stepped into a café dedicated to jazz music.
Surrounded by smooth jazz melodies and a delicious slice of cheesecake, I felt completely relaxed and refreshed.
For a full jazz experience, visitors are asked to keep noise low, no phone calls, and children under middle school age are not allowed.
Why not come and enjoy this extraordinary space, where you can really feel the owner’s passion for coffee and jazz?
There are also lots of shops selling ukiyo-e!
I’m an interpreter guide, and I often get asked by guests, “Where can I buy ukiyo-e?”
My top recommendation is right here in Jimbocho!
In Jimbocho, you can buy ukiyo-e starting from just a few thousand yen. You’ll find not only the classic, famous works by Hokusai and Hiroshige, but also more modern pieces if you look around.
▶ YAMADA SHOTEN
On that day, I visited Yamada Shoten, located just near the station exit.
The lady at the shop was cheerful and happy to chat about all sorts of things.
There were also visitors from overseas looking for ukiyo-e.
They have a wide variety of items — from digital prints for those who just want to enjoy ukiyo-e designs casually, to authentic woodblock pieces for serious collectors.
I couldn’t help but buy one for myself! It’s a print by Shiko Munakata, a famous artist from Japan’s Tohoku region who was active until the 1970s. He’s well-known worldwide and famously said, “I will become the next Van Gogh.”
Pretty powerful, isn’t it?
Why not check out Jimbocho?
I actually live about a 20-minute train ride from Jimbocho, and since I love books, I visit often. Honestly, I’m quite surprised by how popular it has become with visitors from overseas in recent years.
Within walking distance, you’ll also find many publishers, including Shueisha, the company behind hits like Demon Slayer and Dragon Ball. Jimbocho is truly Japan’s top book town.
Come and enjoy a leisurely, analog kind of time here.