Hon no Machi — Jimbocho Book Town Guide
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A half-day walk from Ochanomizu down to Jimbocho: coffee, bookstores, lunch at a century-old restaurant, specialty shops and a Showa-era kissaten. The order follows the streets, so you can join or leave anywhere. Many shops close on Sundays — a weekday or Saturday is best.
1. Start with coffee by Ochanomizu Station
Begin at Kissa Hotaka, a mountain-lodge-style coffee house right by the station, with toast and the house blend.
2. The antiquarian bookstores of Yasukuni-dori
Walk down to Yasukuni-dori Avenue. Isseido Bookstore (1-7 Kanda-Jimbocho), Yagi Shoten for Japanese literature and the new Sanseido main store (both 1-1) are close together.
3. Lunch at a century-old restaurant
Try omelet rice and draft beer at Luncheon (1-6), a beer hall founded in 1909, or a fish set meal at Hasebe (1-39).
4. New books and washi around Suzuran-dori
Visit Tokyodo Bookstore (1-17), Uchiyama Shoten for books on China and Asia (1-15), and Yamagataya Paper Shop (1-15-5), a washi specialist since 1879.
5. Used books and records in Jimbocho 2-chome
Kosho Center Takayama Honten, Fuji Record Sha on the 9th floor of the Kanda Kosho Center, and Hara Shobo (all 2-3), @Wonder (2-5-4) and Book House Cafe (2-5).
6. Rest at a Showa-era kissaten
Finish at Kissa Poupée on a Kanda-Nishikicho back street (3-13-11), with its special curry or spaghetti “Milanese,” and open the books you found.
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▶ Jimbocho shop map ▶ Where to eat ▶ Bookstores ▶ Events ▶ Walking guide
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