Explore Asia’s most enchanting bookstores, where stories come alive through jaw-dropping design, cozy cafés, and bookish charm in every corner.
Bangkok’s tuk-tuk-filled chaos, Tokyo’s neon-lit skyscrapers, Asia never fails to surprise, but step into one of its bookstores, and you’ll find a whole different kind of magic.
Let’s take a closer look at Asia’s most spectacular bookstores, shelf by shelf..
Dujiangyan Zhongshuge (China)
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Inspired by the serene nature of a traditional Chinese garden, the jaw-dropping Dujiangyan Zhongshuge bookstore pulls off a full-blown optical illusion with black mirror floors, arched walkways, and soaring shelves that extend from floor to ceiling.
Situated on the second floor of a mall in Dujiangyan, some of its standout highlights include the winding bookcases and the upper level, which features a mirrored ceiling that plays tricks on the mind.
Tsutaya Books Daikanyama (Japan)
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Imagine a library nestled in a small forest, spread across three stylish buildings with trees seamlessly integrated into the setup; that’s Japan’s award-winning Tsutaya Books Daikanyama. Founded in 1983, this establishment combines culture, community, and commerce by blending a traditional bookstore with lifestyle elements, such as cafés and pop-ups.
Endless books and tasty brews; it’s all here for you, from a Starbucks on the bottom layer to a thoughtfully handpicked collection organized into six themes: humanities and literature, travel, art, food, vehicles, and architecture.
Ginza Tsutaya Books (Chūō, Japan)
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A beloved institution in Chūō, Ginza Tsutaya Books is a premier art-focused bookstore, where imposing 6-meter shelves display over 60,000 art books. Located on the 6th floor of the Ginza Six shopping complex, this remarkable space also includes a curated stationery section, an in-store café, and a dynamic event area.
Japanese titles dominate the selection, but a few English editions are scattered throughout. With an inventory this large, they can be tricky to find, but the staff are very approachable and can point you in the right direction.
Kitab Khana (Mumbai, India)
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One of India’s most beloved bookstores, Mumbai’s Kitab Khana lives up to the hype, especially when you see the building it’s in. With 150 years of history behind it, the high ceilings and eye-catching Corinthian columns contribute to the vintage charm.
You’ll find a great mix of Indian and international reads laid out over two levels, as well as a little section dedicated to all things Mumbai for the bookworms interested in getting to know the city better. There’s also Subko café on the grounds, so you can dive into the first chapter of your new cover with your favorite roast.
ARC•N•BOOK – TP Tower Yeouido (Seoul, South Korea)
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Innovative aesthetics mingle with carefully chosen titles at the book-lovers’ hideaway of ARC•N•BOOK – TP Tower Yeouido. Golden-lit tunnels of covers suspend overhead as you meander through the building, lined with comfortable seating and shared tables where local bibliophiles bond over literature.
Besides its Instagram-worthy layout, ARC•N•BOOK – TP Tower Yeouido also offers functional spaces for customers, including a separate meeting room for those who need a bit of extra privacy.
Sinan Bookstore (Shanghai, China)
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Out of all of Shanghai’s literary stops, few would argue against Sinan Bookstore being labeled the prettiest, thanks to its historic European-style villa feel, lush greenery draped across the exterior, and paned glass windows that bathe the space in sunlight.
The selection leans toward the humanities and social sciences, with most titles written in Mandarin, though there are a few English covers scattered throughout, along with some niche magazines. Time it right, and you could be able to catch one of their events, none more iconic than the Sinan Bookstore Festival.
The Zall Bookstore (Singapore)
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Amidst the sleek surroundings of Wheelock Place, Zall Bookstore gives readers a peaceful escape from Singapore’s fast-paced city energy. With an art gallery and over 30,000 books in both Chinese and English, it follows a minimalist, Jiangnan-inspired design that blends stylish simplicity with literary richness.
White tones and soft lighting create a calming atmosphere in the store. The staircases are positioned facing rows of volumes, making for a perfect place to scan the titles that catch your eye.
Eslite Bookstore Causeway Bay (Hong Kong)
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Day or night, whenever you feel in the mood to scout out a new title, Hong Kong’s 24-hour Eslite Bookstore in Causeway Bay has its doors open, ready to welcome you with open arms. Hours will fly by before you know it as you explore the three trendy floors filled with Chinese and international books, lifestyle goods, and even a restaurant for those feeling peckish.
The inventory at Eslite Bookstore is remarkably diverse, catering to readers of all tastes and interests, including academic works, art books, biographies, social sciences, humanities, and much more.
B2S Think Space Eastville (Bangkok, Thailand)
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Occupying a space in Bangkok’s Central Festival EastVille, B2S Think Space Eastville is a modern lifestyle bookstore with a catalog of more than 100,000 titles. This shop’s fresh layout is marked by living accessories neatly organized on central tables, while curved shelving sweeps along the walls in a neat, continuous line, presenting a wide range of both English and Thai volumes.
Among the amenities available to customers are creative workspaces, art supplies, and family-friendly areas. For die-hard manga fans, a dedicated zone awaits on the second floor.
HARDCOVER: The Art Book Shop (Bangkok, Thailand)
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Still in Bangkok, we’re mixing it up and making our way to the Central Embassy to HARDCOVER: The Art Book Shop, a niche bookstore focused on global art, design, and photography. Publications aren’t everything here (although they are pretty amazing); the layout is also absolutely gorgeous, with modern finishes, clean shelving, and greenery to give it that natural feel.
Many rare and collectible editions can be found at HARDCOVER, too, with most of the titles in English. Hungry or in the mood for a film? There’s a food court and a movie theater right in the vicinity.
City Book Room (Singapore)
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The independent City Book Room bookstore opened its doors on Singapore’s Joo Chiat Road back in 2014, born from owner Tan Waln Ching’s admiration for literature. On paper, a 452-square-foot space may not seem like much, but they’ve amassed an outstanding range of Chinese titles, local publications, and cultural reads.
Since its opening, City Book Room has worked to give local authors the recognition they deserve by offering their titles to the public. Additionally, they’ve hosted numerous literary events to bring together Singapore’s community of readers and thinkers, and they continue to do so, so keep an eye out.
The 1 Bookstore (Taipei, Taiwan)
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Positioned above Taipei’s Main Station, 1 Bookstore is an artsy space with a fresh vision built with an open facade, a spiraling staircase, and ceiling lights that highlight rows of bookcases. It’s connected to a youth hostel, which you might think would ruin the vibe, but it actually brings in a chill, like-minded crowd.
As you review the lineup at 1 Bookstore, you’ll soon notice that most of the collection is in Mandarin. One cool feature is the sticky notes with recommendations, which is a handy touch if you’re not sure what to pick up.
Shanghai Bookstore (Shanghai, China)
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The massive, multi-level Shanghai Bookstore is so big you might need a couple of visits just to get your bearings. Luckily, there are scanning machines on every floor, so you can check out more information about the books yourself, because the place is so huge, you might not spot a staff member right away.
Trying to sum up the styling in one paragraph doesn’t do it justice, but one standout feature has to be the cubed wooden shelving across the walls; you’ll know exactly what we mean when you see it. There’s also a lovely café on-site, plus sections dedicated to stationery, CDs, and DVDs.
Forest of Wisdom (South Korea)
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Of all the spots we could highlight from Paju Book City, it has got to be the Forest of Wisdom. Nothing quite matches those towering bookshelves stacked with over 200,000 titles, donated mainly by South Korean intellectuals. Add in the quirky sculpture of a man looking through binoculars, and you’ve got yourself one unforgettable bookstore.
Technically, most of the place functions as a library, but there’s a separate section where you can buy books, too. Be aware this is a no-WiFi zone; it is all about getting lost in the pages, not scrolling, the way all bookstores should be.
Chaekbonyang (Seongbuk-dong, Seoul)
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Chaekbonyang is one independent bookstore with a twist. Tucked away in a traditional Hanok house in Seongbuk-dong, the space is home to two resident cats and a collection that’s largely feline-themed.
As a little souvenir, you can pick up some cat-themed accessories for sale inside: from milk glasses to postcards, they’ve got all sorts of goodies. Feel free to snap a few pics of the kitties roaming about on top of the books, but give them their space, or you might get a growl from them.
ARC·N·BOOK – Lotte World Mall
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Arc N Book, where a glowing tunnel in Seoul’s Lotte Mall leads you straight into a treasure trove of reads, all neatly divided into four genre-themed sections. Warm wooden furnishings, elevated ceilings, and crisp pendant lighting tie the arrangement together to get the look just right.
As one might imagine, most of the books are in Korean, but non-native speakers should still swing by and grab a seat by the window to soak up that stunning view of Seokchon Lake.
Seoul Book Repository (Seoul Chaekbogo)
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Secondhand bookstores usually have pretty humble setups, but the Seoul Book Repository breaks the mold. Its alluring arched tunnel twists right through the shop, with bookshelves lining both sides, creating a visual flow that’s easy on the eyes.
Saying they’ve got a big inventory would be putting it lightly; there are over 200,000 books here, including plenty of antique and rare finds. Quite a bit of the stock comes from other used shops around the city, so there’s a great mix to dig through.
Wuguan Books – Kaohsiung – Taiwan
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Housed in what used to be a warehouse, few bookstores even come close to what Wuguan’s doing. The entire place is pitch black, and the only light comes from spotlights that shine directly on the book covers, making them look like they’re floating. It’s a super unique setup that gives every title its own place to shine.
There are about 400 shelves scattered around the space, but each one holds just a single book. Wuguan prioritizes quality over quantity, delving into themes such as erotica and emotions that people usually wouldn’t normally look at in a heavily stocked store.
Nagoya Tsutaya
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While social media lovers might flock to Nagoya Tsutaya to snap a pic in front of those breathtaking book-lined walls, this place is way more than just a photo-op. It’s a massive lifestyle hub packed with Japanese books, kids’ titles, and magazines on everything from cooking to photography.
Pretty much everyone ends up grabbing a drink at the on-site coffee shop, but be warned, if you’re planning to sit down and read, there’s a two-hour limit, even if you buy something.
Zhongshuge Shenzhen
Found in Shenzhen’s Qianhai OCT zone, if you’re even just a little bit active online, chances are you’ve come across photos of Zhongshuge’s mind-blowing design with mirrors and swirling bookshelves that will have your head spinning.
Spanning over 12,000 square feet, the store holds around 45,000 books, with plenty of bestsellers, plus a fun mix of comic-themed and animated titles thrown into the mix.
Zhongshuge Huai’an
Sticking with Zhongshuge but jumping over to Huai’an in Eastern China, this branch brings the same wow factor with a similar layout that the brand is known for: bold, three-dimensional shelves that twist and curve in all the right ways.
Divided between two floors and covering 810 square meters, they wanted to try something different with the arrangement, switching up from the usual buildings you’ll spot around Huai’an. On top of the distinctive floorplan, there’s plenty more to love: reading corners, a café, and a space-themed kids’ zone.
Tianjin Zhongshuge
To wrap up the Zhongshuge hat trick, we’re looking at their location in the Italian-esque part of Tianjin. This one has serious appeal with its monumental neoclassical features, complete with grand columns and a striking glass atrium right in the center.
It has the grandeur of Milan but with a distinct touch of modern Chinese flair. Inside, the sleek vertical blinds stretch as far as the ceiling, wrapping around floors layered with books just waiting to be taken home.
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Adam Ryan
Adam is a distinguished content writer, bookworm, and full-time adventurer with a constant craving for coffee. When he's not working, he loves exploring remote corners of the world, immersing himself in different cultures, and writing about his experiences.
