Jimbocho: Books, cafes and guitars in the coolest neighborhood in Tokyo (and the world)

"The common thread running through this neighborhood is its over 180 bookstores, many of them secondhand, which frequently display their stock on the street, transforming the area into a kind of open-air book fair. This is especially true at the end of October, when the Kanda Used Book Festival takes place, which celebrated its 65th edition last year."

"The density of used bookstores, publishers, and businesses related to writing is no accident: the proximity of several universities since the Meiji era (1868–1912) has transformed the neighborhood into an ecosystem where books are an everyday tool."

"Among the many bookstores in the neighborhood are Kitazawa Shoten, specializing in foreign language books; Bohemians Guild, with its splendid collection of visual arts; Yumeno Shoten, specializing in manga; and Anegawa Nyankodo, proudly displaying its extensive selection of books, calendars, and cat-related items."

Jimbocho, a Tokyo neighborhood recently named the world's coolest by Time Out magazine, has emerged from insider status to mainstream recognition. The area's defining characteristic is its concentration of over 180 bookstores, predominantly secondhand, which display inventory on streets creating an open-air book fair atmosphere. The Kanda Used Book Festival, now in its 65th year, celebrates this literary heritage. The neighborhood's book ecosystem developed organically due to proximity to universities since the Meiji era, establishing it as a hub for publishers, writers, and book-related businesses. Beyond Japanese literature, the area offers visual design appeal through beautifully designed Japanese books, vintage movie posters, and specialized stores including foreign language bookstores, manga shops, visual arts collections, and even an Italian bookstore.

Read at english.elpais.com