This Neighborhood Was Just Named the Coolest in the World-Here's How to Experience It, According to a Local

"Jimbōchō is very retro and a bit dusty but has boho charm to spare, remaining stubbornly independent in the face of the globalization's homogenizing force. For a perfect day in Jimbōchō, we start with lunch at Kitchen Nankai, a tiny counter restaurant that has been slinging classic Japanese curry topped with katsu pork cutlets since 1966. Then, walk off those calories wandering from bookshop to bookshop."

"Time Out rightly shouts out Isseido Booksellers, a two-story treasure trove of antique books. The second floor has a substantial foreign language collection, focused on visual arts, traditional crafts, and Japanese culture. Nearby Komiyama is the place for photography books, magnif has vintage fashion magazines going back nearly a century, and the adorable Nyankodo is devoted to all things cat, but there are over a hundred more to explore."

Jimbōchō in Tokyo sits near several universities, producing a concentration of used bookstores, budget eateries, and long-established coffee shops with retro boho character. The neighborhood retains independent charm despite globalizing pressures. Typical day offerings include classic Japanese curry at Kitchen Nankai and wandering dozens of specialized bookshops such as Isseido Booksellers, Komiyama, magnif, and Nyankodo. Takeo Paper Shop supplies handcrafted Japanese stationery from materials like kozo mulberry and rice chaff. Kissa cafés combine hands-on pour-overs with niche interests—tango at Milonga Nueva, calligraphy at Mafumi Coffee, and classical LPs at Cafe Ataraxia—followed by ramen for dinner.

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