Since the re-opening of travel to Japan, we have been inundated with posts regarding shopping for specific items in Japan. While /r/Japantravel’s rules specifically forbid posting new threads on individual establishments or services – we have decided to create specific threads for most common questions appearing in posts that got removed, discussion threads or Discord, especially since many of the write-ups that were posted befored COVID-19 hit were no longer up to date.
Today’s topic is: **What are your favourite book and record stores in Tokyo (Kanto region).**
Feel free to talk about Book-Off, Jimbocho or the hidden alley stores with all that jazz vinyls.
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1 comment
For some guidance:
Bookshops:
* [list of intersting bookstores in Tokyo by Books and Bao](https://booksandbao.com/tokyo-bookstores/),
* [another fairly fresh list by Culture Trip](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/the-10-best-bookshops-in-tokyo/)
* [list of English bookstores in Tokyo from 2021](https://blog.japanwondertravel.com/best-english-bookstores-tokyo-27985)
Record shops;
* [Tokyo Weekender’s Vinyl Stores Guide](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2021/08/10-best-record-stores-in-tokyo-for-all-your-vinyl-needs/)
* [Guidable’s Guide](https://guidable.co/things_to_do/shopping/the-best-record-stores-in-tokyo-in-2022/)
* Bonus: [Record stores with bars](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/bars-and-pubs/best-record-stores-with-bars-in-tokyo)
Note that if using pre-2021/2022 lists – you absolutely should check, whether bookshop or record store exists anymore – sadly many have not survived pandemic.
Personally, if you are not hunting for any specific, but love books in general, strolling around Jimbocho until some book strikes your fancy is not a bad idea for a half-day of leisure (and you can easily combine it with Koishikawa Korakuen, Tokyo Dome, a dinner in Ochanomizu).