Travel Through Books: Tokyo, Japan
WELCOME TO TOKYO, JAPAN
Tokyo, a city that seamlessly blends ancient traditions with cutting-edge modernity, is a haven for book lovers. From its historic book towns to book-themed hotels and innovate bookstores there are no shortage of things to do for book lovers. Join us on a literary journey through Tokyo, where the book Moshi Moshi by Banana Yoshimoto serves as your guide to the city’s hidden gems, delicious cuisine, and rich cultural heritage.
We’re taking you through the streets of Shimokitazawa and beyond to discover hidden bookstores and indulge in delicious local cuisine. Below we’ll share our recommendations for Shimokitazawa and other neighborhoods in Tokyo as well as a must-do book-themed stay outside of the city.
WHAT TO READ
A great read set in a lesser visited neighborhood of Tokyo is Banana Yoshimoto’s Moshi Moshi. Set in the artsy neighborhood of Shimokitazawa, this novel follows a young woman’s journey of grief and healing after the sudden and mysterious death of her father.
Yoshie and her mother move to Shimokitazawa, a traditional Tokyo neighborhood, to escape the haunting of the family home after finding our shocking details about her father’s death. The neighborhood of Shimokitazawa, known for its vintage shops, indie bookstores, and eclectic cafes, It proves to be an oasis of calm amongst the Tokyo bustle and provides a safe haven for them in their time of need.
WHERE TO STAY
- Mustard Hotel Shimokitazawa – if you want a simple, centrally located stay and the chance to be in community with artists and tastemakers than Mustard Hotel is the place for you. Set in the Shimokitazawa neighborhood, you’ll be just a 5-minute drive from Shibuya Crossing and Yoyogi Park. Check out the hotel’s curated playlists.
- Trunk Hotel Cat Street- This stylish hotel, housed in two historic buildings, embodies the spirit of the Shibuya neighborhood offering a unique blend of Japanese hospitality and contemporary design.
- For a book that deals with grief, a weekend outside of the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and the book-themed Hakone Honbako is the perfect choice. This hotel has floor to ceiling books. Each room includes a private onsen hot spring bath and includes delicious multi-course lunch and dinner each day.
WHAT TO DO
- Visit the Jimbōchō Book Town, one of the world’s oldest and largest book markets home to over 400 bookstores, offering a vast selection of new and used books. A great time to visit is in late October to overlap with the Kanada Old Book Festival.
- TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Shimokitazawa –
- Village Vanguard bookstore – if you’re into anime then a visit to the bookstore and shop is the place to be.
- Book&Beer – This bookstore allows you to enjoy a cold beer while sampling a wide range of books.
- Explore the Museum of Modern Japanese Literature which houses a vast collection of books, letters, and manuscripts from over 150 renowned Japanese authors.
- Go to Hanegi Park for a quiet place to read.
- The Setagaya Literary museum includes over 100,000 pieces of literary interest, including handwritten manuscripts and correspondence of literary figures..
- For those who don’t want to stay in a hostel, but love the idea of visiting a book-themed hotel within Tokyo, grabbing a 1-hour pass and a drink at Book & Bed‘s cafe is the perfect way to go.
WHERE TO EAT
- Mikan is a shopping mall under the Keio tracks that has a wide range of food from Thai, Korean, and Vietnamese restaurants to tacos, pizza, and kebabs.
- For drinks head to the converted theater the Suzunari, which houses a mix of bars.
- Reload is a complex with a number of small retailers, including Ming-Teng Hao Hao serving up vegan dumplings, noodles, and rice dishes all for affordable prices. For dessert head upstairs to Universal Bakes for a delicious range of baked goods.
- For a pancake fix go to Flipper’s Shimokitazawa
- For dan dan noodles and Chinese food head to Kamui Shimokitazawa
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