Known for its secondhand bookstores and curry shops, Jimbocho hasn’t traditionally topped tourists’ lists — but that could soon change. Time Out magazine recently declared the area the “world’s coolest neighborhood” — much to the surprise of Tokyoites.
“I’m very happy, but it was unexpected,” says Michiaki Kamoshida, a bookseller at Honmaru, a shared bookstore where individuals or corporations rent a bookshelf and curate their own collection. “Books aren’t really getting that much attention these days, even globally. Especially in Japan, the publishing industry isn’t doing that well. So I was very surprised to see this book town getting attention.”
He is not alone in his bemusement.