Hon no Machi — Jimbocho Book Town Guide
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Photographer ELLI (Eri Ito), who says she “had almost no connection with Jimbocho,” walks Book Town with fresh eyes. Since the June 2025 issue she has visited a shop in Kanda, Ochanomizu or Jimbocho every month, photographing it while talking with the owner — a century-old beer hall, mountain-lodge coffee houses, soba shops, washi paper, inkstones, records and more.
All installments
#1 Early-Summer Daytime Drinks at Luncheon, a Jimbocho Beer Hall Founded in 1909 (June 2025 issue)
#2 The Adirondack Café, a Jimbocho Jazz Spot: New York Records and Live Music Tuesday and Wednesday Nights (July 2025 issue)
#3 Hasebe, a Jimbocho Set-Meal Restaurant: Bluefin Tuna from Toyosu Every Morning and Lunch Worth the Line (August 2025 issue)
#4 Toyodaen and Daisen in Kanda-Sarugakucho: A Third-Generation Tea Shop and the Son’s Soba Restaurant (September 2025 issue)
#5 @Wonder JG in Jimbocho: A Former Pachinko Parlor Turned Library-Sized Used Bookstore (October 2025 issue)
#6 Book House Cafe in Jimbocho: A Children’s Bookstore with Picture Books, a Café and a Hideaway Bar (November 2025 issue)
#7 Kissa Hotaka, Ochanomizu: A 70-Year-Old Mountain-Lodge Coffee House and Its Owner’s Edo Heritage (December 2025 issue)
#8 Mamekobo, Jimbocho: The House-Roasting Coffee Maker Who Roasts Nearly a Ton a Month (January 2026 issue)
#9 Banuken, Jimbocho: Inkstones, Antiques and a 50-Year Love Affair with Duanxi Stone (February 2026 issue)
#10 Asanoya, Kanda-Sarugakucho: A 100-Year-Old Soba Shop Run by Its Third and Fourth Generations (March 2026 issue)
#11 Yamagataya Paper Shop, Jimbocho: A Washi Specialist Since 1879 and Its Manager Yuko Taki (April 2026 issue)
#12 Kissa Poupée, Kanda-Nishikicho: A 56-Year-Old Coffee House Welcomed by French Dolls, and Its Special Curry (May 2026 issue)
#13 Ochanomizu Hotel Shoryukan, Where Osamu Tezuka Once Stayed, and Its Famous Red Chicken Curry (June 2026 issue)
#14 Kanda Awahei: The Kanda Senbei Shop That Coined “Gekikara” (Fiery Hot) and Its Sixth Generation (July 2026 issue)
#15 Daiki Shoe Store, Kanda: A Nearly 75-Year-Old Shoe Shop on How to Choose Shoes That Fit (August 2026 issue)
#16 Sakaiya Sports, Jimbocho: A Specialty Store for Mountaineering and Climbing Gear (September 2026 issue)
#17 Listening to a Hand-Cranked Gramophone at Fuji Record Sha, Jimbocho’s Nearly 100-Year-Old Used-Record Shop (October 2026 issue)
Shops ELLI has visited
Tap a pin to see the shop and its article.
- B@WonderUsed books (all genres)2-5-4 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- BBook House CafeNew children’s books2-5 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- CKissa HotakaKissaten (coffee house)4-5-3 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- CKissa PoupéeKissaten (coffee house)3-13-11 Kanda-Nishikicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- CMamekoboHouse-roasted coffee café1-39-9 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- CThe Adirondack CaféCafé & bar1-2-9 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- RDaisen (soba restaurant)Soba noodles1-4-4 Kanda-Sarugakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- RHasebe (seasonal Japanese cuisine)Seasonal Japanese cuisine1-39 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- RLuncheon (beer hall)Beer hall & Western-style food1-6 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- RSoba-dokoro AsanoyaSoba noodles2-7-6 Kanda-Sarugakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- SBanukenAntique stationery & curios1-27 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- SFuji Record ShaUsed recordsKanda Kosho Center 9F, 2-3 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- SKanda AwaheiSenbei & arare rice crackers2-13-1 Uchi-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- SKanda Daiki Shoe StoreShoes1-1 Kanda-Ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- SToyodaen (tea shop)Fine Japanese tea1-4-4 Kanda-Sarugakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- SYamagataya Paper ShopWashi (Japanese paper)1-15-5 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
- HOchanomizu Hotel ShoryukanHotel3-24 Kanda-Ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo