Discover 17 of Tokyo’s best bookshops, literary cafés, libraries, and reading spaces in this ultimate guide for book lovers exploring the city.
Just because it’s one of the most population-dense cities in the world doesn’t mean Tokyo doesn’t have any space for book lovers; if anything, it hides a whole treasure trove of literary gems behind neon signs and glitzy veneer.
Book and Bed Tokyo Shinjuku
You can’t have a Tokyo book lover’s guide without a Book and Bed Tokyo, and their branch in Shibuya is an absolute must-stay. This hostel combines accommodations with a book-filled lounge, creating an environment where you can sleep surrounded by shelves.
There are Book and Beds in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. The Shinjuku branch opened in 2018 and is known for its compact, immersive design and black-themed café menu, particularly its black ice latte, black strawberry milk, and even a sandwich using black bread.
Address: Apm Building 8F, 1-27-5 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 4PM
– Check-out time: 11AM
Shiba Park Hotel
Shiba Park Hotel is an upscale hotel with an absolutely stellar design. Seated near Tokyo Tower and the Shiba Park area, it emphasizes a peaceful stay, books, and wine. Despite being in the middle of a bustling metropolis, it gives off a very refined “library hotel” feel rather than a flashy city-hotel vibe.
The hotel’s Library Lounge is especially worth noting, complete with a collection curated by Ginza Tsutaya Books (which, coincidentally, comes next on this list).
Address: 1 Chome-5-10 Shibakoen, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0011
Opening hours:
– Check-in time: 3PM
– Check-out time: 11AM
Ginza Tsutaya Books
This high-end bookstore aims to stun. Focused on arts of all kinds and offering an art gallery-esque layout, it’s often described as a destination for design lovers. Its collection has over 60,000 art magazines and books, primarily in Japanese, organized in sections across the store that takes up a decent chunk of Ginza Six’s sixth floor.
The store includes a glamorous event space that often hosts artworks, an art gallery, and even an attached Starbucks.
Address: 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 6 Chome−10−1 ＳＩＸ６階
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 10:30AM – 9PM
Jimbocho Book Town
We’ve talked about this place before, and for good reason. Jimbocho Book Town is Tokyo’s legendary secondhand-book district. It is packed with used, rare, and specialist bookstores with titles in Japanese, English, Korean, and more.
It’s also home to two different annual book festivals, the Kanda Used Book Festival and Jimbocho Book Festival, each with its own flavor that makes a visit worthwhile. Kanda is more secondhand, flea market style, selling postcards and art in addition to vintage books. Meanwhile, the Jimbocho Book Festival focuses more on new releases and limited editions.
Address: 2 Chome-20-26 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0051
Opening hours:
– Varies among stores, but most are open between 11AM – 6PM
Book House Café
If you don’t have much time to spend in Jimbocho, make sure you at least visit the Book House Café. This place combines a café with a children’s bookstore, offering Japanese picture books and a small selection of foreign picture books as well.
The café menu has a variety of drinks, cakes, and a beef and cheese curry that is especially popular. The store also has an event space on the second floor that hosts picture book readings, author talks, and musical performances—all of which are, naturally, family-friendly.
Address: 1F Kitazawa Building, 2-5-3 Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0051, Japan
Opening hours:
Bookstore:
– Monday to Sunday: 11AM – 6PM
Café:
– Monday to Friday: 11AM – 5:30PM (Last order 5PM)
– Saturday & Sunday: 11AM – 6PM (Last order 5:30PM)
Infinity Books and Event Space
Infinity Books and Event Space is an English-language secondhand bookstore close to Asakusa Temple. Being so close to a major sightseeing spot, it gets loads of tourist traffic, which it takes full advantage of by selling titles not just in English, but a huge variety of languages, including French, Spanish, and Italian.
Almost every Friday and Saturday, it hosts a wide range of cultural events: English comedy shows, live music, art parties, games, board games, and more.
Address: 〒130-0001 Tokyo, Sumida City, Azumabashi, 1 Chome−2−4 駒形橋ハイツ １F
Opening hours:
– Tuesday: 9AM – 12PM
– Wednesday and Thursday: 9AM – 9PM
– Friday and Saturday: 1PM – 11PM (Closes at 9PM if no scheduled event)
– Sunday: 1PM – 6PM
– Monday: Closed
ROUTE BOOKS
This is a shop that has a little bit of everything: a café, potted plants, furniture, and of course, plenty of books. This independent bookshop has a very down-to-earth, laid-back vibe that’s only fed by the proliferation of plants and eclectic selection of furniture.
The café has hand-drip coffee and a decent selection of pastries to choose from, including red bean and butter bread. ROUTE BOOKS is especially noteworthy for its broad array of workshops and courses, from pottery and woodshop to guitar and yoga.
Address: 1F, 4 Chome-14-3 Higashiueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0015
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 12PM – 9PM
The Waseda International House of Literature (The Haruki Murakami Library)
Also known as the Haruki Murakami Library, the Waseda International House of Literature is a literary space dedicated to international exchange and (you guessed it) the famous Japanese writer, Haruki Murakami.
Murakami used a lot of surrealism and magical realism in his works, and that is reflected in the very design of this library, from the curved metal frame swooping around the exterior to the offbeat artistic installations inside. The library functions as both an archive and a cultural venue, linking scholarship, exhibitions, and public programming.
Address: 〒169-0051 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Nishiwaseda, 1 Chome−6−6 4号館
Opening hours:
– Thursday to Tuesday: 10AM – 5PM
– Wednesday: Closed
Forest Library
Forest Library is a café and dedicated reading space, one filled with volumes upon volumes of Japanese that visitors can read on site. It’s a relatively small, quiet space, with wooden tables and dimmed, atmospheric lighting, the three walls of the reading room lined with books.
Entry and pricing are time-based and come with unlimited soft drinks, so patrons can work, study, or relax without feeling rushed to make space for the next guest. Light meals and desserts are also available.
Address: 〒150-0042 Tokyo, Shibuya, Udagawacho, 23−3 渋谷第一勧銀共同ビル 8F みずほ銀行のビル、グルメタウン8Fです
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 9AM – 10:45PM
Daikanyama T-Site
Daikanyama T-Site is one of Tsutaya’s many outlets throughout Japan—but don’t let it being part of a chain fool you into thinking it’s ho-hum. This is one of Tokyo’s most elegant bookstores, designed around the idea of “a library in the woods.” The exterior is a white lattice made entirely of T’s, and the building itself is surrounded by clean slate and beautiful trees.
The store’s catalogue comprises books both English and Japanese, magazines, music, and lifestyle goods, while an attached Starbucks (present in many Tsutaya Books) gives patrons a chance to sit back and relax.
Address: 〒150-0033 Tokyo, Shibuya, Sarugakucho, 17−5 代官山Ｔ－ＳＩＴＥ １号館～３号館 １階～２階
Opening hours:
Bookstore:
– Monday to Sunday: 9AM – 10PM
Café:
– Monday to Sunday: 7AM – 10PM
COW Books
This carefully curated independent bookstore is a little offbeat and a lot unique. It’s owned by a book critic with very distinct tastes, and he ensures his inventory is mainly Japanese, with a few in English, which gives light to lesser-known indie titles and publishers without shirking quality. It’s the place to go if you want something different from the generic, popular releases sold in chains.
COW BOOKS also sells coffee and has a small but pleasant seating area. It pairs nicely for those who want to sit and read for a bit.
Address: 〒153-0042 Tokyo, Meguro City, Aobadai, 1 Chome−14−11 コーポ青葉台 103
Opening hours:
– Tuesday to Sunday: 12PM – 7PM
– Monday: Closed
Good Heavens
For those looking for a bit of England in Japan, Good Heavens fits the bill quite nicely. This book bar/pub sells beer and pub food, including classics like shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and apple crumble. It also has a sizable shelf of English-language books available to read in the pub or buy outright.
Rather than a place to sit and read, this book bar creates a lively atmosphere, complete with comedy nights and other shows, that make it a great spot to find like-minded individuals.
Address: 〒155-0032 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Daizawa, 5 Chome−32−5 シェルボ下北沢 ２Ｆ
Opening hours:
– Wednesday and Thursday: 6PM – 11:30PM
– Friday: 12PM – 12AM
– Saturday: 12PM – 1AM
– Sunday: 12PM – 11PM
– Monday and Tuesday: Closed
RBL CAFE
Lined with shelves and permeating with a quiet, studious atmosphere, RBL Cafe is a book café that’s a four-minute walk from Shimo-Kitazawa Station in Setagaya, Tokyo. The name stands for “Reference Book Library,” and the on-site collection fulfills this unspoken promise by mainly stocking dictionaries, encyclopedias, and reference books.
Quick note: opening hours are generally as shown below, but irregular holidays are common. So, be sure to double-check the café’s website before visiting, just in case.
Address: 5 Chome-32-12 Daizawa, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0032
Opening hours:
– Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday to Sunday: 1PM – 7PM
– Monday and Thursday: Closed
B&B (Book&Beer)
B&B, short for Book&Beer, is a book bar where you can browse with a beer in hand. (Or other beverage, both alcoholic and non, but, you know, alliteration.) The collection is in Japanese and includes a wide range of magazines, plus an eclectic array of titles on business, religion, and more that you’re not likely to find in a bigger chain store.
Overall, this place is known for talk events, readings, and a casual “stay awhile” atmosphere with a unique lineup of books.
Address: 〒155-0033 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Daita, 2 Chome−36−15 BONUS TRACK 2F
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 12PM – 6:30PM
– Saturday & Sunday: 11AM – 6:30PM
BUNKITSU TOKYO
Want some relaxed reading? Head over to BUNKITSU TOKYO in Minato. Opened in just September 2025, this bookstore and café has a sprawling layout and creatively curved bookcases filled with everything from children’s books and manga to fashion design and literature.
Its choice of light-colored wood in shelving and floors enhances the bright, friendly atmosphere. Meanwhile, the café lounge provides a simple selection of drinks, snacks, and sweets to choose from while you take a break from browsing.
Address: 〒108-0074 Tokyo, Minato City, Takanawa, 2 Chome−21−2 NEWoMan高輪 South 5F
Opening hours:
– Monday to Sunday: 11AM – 8PM
SKWAT/twelvebooks
Here’s a place that made the “under construction” look a style—and we’re not talking about unfinished or lazy design. This bookstore/vinyl archive/art museum chose exposed metal pipes and raw scaffolding as its aesthetic, and it creates a one-of-a-kind experimental vibe amidst rows and stacks of books.
That warehouse-like feel is a major part of its charm. Another part is that it has listening stations on-site where you can actually listen to the vinyls on display. Or, if you prefer, you can stroll through an art gallery-esque space on the ground floor.
Address: 3 Chome-26-4 Nishikameari, Katsushika City, Tokyo 125-0002
Opening hours:
– Wednesday to Sunday: 11AM – 7PM
– Monday and Tuesday: Closed
Tama Art University Library
Tama Art University Library is just one of Japan’s many impressive libraries. Designed by Toyo Ito and completed in 2007, this campus creates a stunning visual impact using concrete arches and an almost cave-like structure. It’s a beautiful example of contemporary architecture in academia, and also one of the most famous in Tokyo.
The book collection consists mainly of Japanese books numbering in the tens of thousands, but it also includes some foreign-language titles to keep things even.
Address: 2 Chome-1723 Yarimizu, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0375
Opening hours:
– Monday to Friday: 9AM – 8PM
– Saturday: 9AM – 5PM
– Sunday: Closed
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K Lou
K. Lou is a writer born in the U.S. who found her way to Japan through a spiritual calling—or, more precisely, better access to tea. She writes about travel, culture, and the occasional creative piece, inspired by her enduring love of books. This love began in high school when K. Lou carried books around to avoid seeming odd while lost in thought. Once she started reading, she never stopped. With zero regrets, she continues to explore the written word and invites others to join her in celebrating its varied forms.
