For people who buy English physical books and import them to Japan, what sites do you buy them from that don’t have crazy expensive shipping? I know people say “switch to ebooks” but sometimes I prefer physical
Amazon jp. If they don’t have it, Amazon US. Book depository was great but I think they are no more. I could be wrong 🤔
With bookdepository disappearing, I’m lost too. Amazon, but that’s a bit of a hit and miss in regards to shipping fees and prices.
Is the price so bad at Kinokuniya in Shinjuku? I haven’t bought a physical book in years so I really don’t know. Once a year they have a big book sale as well
Mercari and rakuma! I’ve gotten good deals and they tend to be in great to pristine condition!
Like everyone else says, Book Depository is no more which is a huge bummer.
I mostly just use digital for anything other than technical/reference books. Those I just get on mercari, amazon japan, or rakuten books, whichever is cheapest.
At least in Tokyo, I’ve been surprised at the number of bookstores with fairly decent English sections, at least for currently popular books.
Local library might have an English section or able to order in from other places. You don’t get to keep the books but they are free to read. My local library has a surprisingly large section of English books and halfway decent selection for the area.
ThriftBooks. Dirt cheap books and shipping
Whoa whoa book depository is closing? Why?! (I reluctantly use Amazon.jp to get most of my science fiction needs)
Betterworldbooks. Free international shipping. Used books. Donation programs.
If you are close to Tokyo, Maruzen Bookstore in the Marunochi Building at Tokyo station has an entire floor for English books.
I usually stock up whenever I’m in Tokyo.
Kinokuniya, Amazon
As a public service announcement, for some free classic e-books, I’d really recommend http://www.gutenberg.org . Basically almost anything you can think of that’s old enough to have the copyright run out is available there for free—including rare and out of print stuff like random victorian travel journals or memoirs. Also specific editions and all the forwards of different editions editions of books like Pride and Prejudice. Since the copyright is not an issue you could pay to legally physically print some of these books. Or you could save some money here to channel into ordering newer specific books you want/crave ^ – ^
I get all of my technical books on Amazon. They almost all ship in from India.
Bookdepository (about to be closed) or Abe books for second hand. Looks like ill be heading to Blackwell’s Books for new stuff.
Amazon works fine for me, the second hand books are practically brand new too. That or the book shop above tokyu hands south exit of shinjuku station has a large english section.
17 comments
Amazon jp. If they don’t have it, Amazon US. Book depository was great but I think they are no more. I could be wrong 🤔
With bookdepository disappearing, I’m lost too. Amazon, but that’s a bit of a hit and miss in regards to shipping fees and prices.
Is the price so bad at Kinokuniya in Shinjuku? I haven’t bought a physical book in years so I really don’t know. Once a year they have a big book sale as well
You could try
Wordery: https://wordery.com/
Blackwells: https://blackwells.co.uk
Mercari and rakuma! I’ve gotten good deals and they tend to be in great to pristine condition!
Like everyone else says, Book Depository is no more which is a huge bummer.
I mostly just use digital for anything other than technical/reference books. Those I just get on mercari, amazon japan, or rakuten books, whichever is cheapest.
Depending on where you are there are also physical location options like [Infinity Books](https://www.infinitybooksjapan.com/) in Tokyo.
At least in Tokyo, I’ve been surprised at the number of bookstores with fairly decent English sections, at least for currently popular books.
Local library might have an English section or able to order in from other places. You don’t get to keep the books but they are free to read. My local library has a surprisingly large section of English books and halfway decent selection for the area.
ThriftBooks. Dirt cheap books and shipping
Whoa whoa book depository is closing? Why?!
(I reluctantly use Amazon.jp to get most of my science fiction needs)
Betterworldbooks. Free international shipping. Used books. Donation programs.
If you are close to Tokyo, Maruzen Bookstore in the Marunochi Building at Tokyo station has an entire floor for English books.
I usually stock up whenever I’m in Tokyo.
Kinokuniya, Amazon
As a public service announcement, for some free classic e-books, I’d really recommend http://www.gutenberg.org . Basically almost anything you can think of that’s old enough to have the copyright run out is available there for free—including rare and out of print stuff like random victorian travel journals or memoirs. Also specific editions and all the forwards of different editions editions of books like Pride and Prejudice. Since the copyright is not an issue you could pay to legally physically print some of these books. Or you could save some money here to channel into ordering newer specific books you want/crave ^ – ^
I get all of my technical books on Amazon. They almost all ship in from India.
Bookdepository (about to be closed) or Abe books for second hand. Looks like ill be heading to Blackwell’s Books for new stuff.
Amazon works fine for me, the second hand books are practically brand new too.
That or the book shop above tokyu hands south exit of shinjuku station has a large english section.