Kyoto Guide

Kyoto

Presently, there is a small gap in the market for foreign books, since the closure of Maruzen. However on Kawaramachi, on the east side about halfway between shijo and sanjo, is Junkudo. It's located on the eight floor of the BAL building. There is a fairly large collection of novels, reference books on a range of subjects and Japanese language texts. There were also a large range of books on Japan, covering things from history to chat up lines. Check the forums for further information.

There is also a used bookstore slightly north of the centre. Green E Books, which recently celebrated its one year anniversary, is near the Metro on Marutamachi Street . It stocks second-hand English novels, academic texts, guide books and old magazines. In fact, they seem to have more books than they can handle. There is a good DVD rental service, too (see the entry under Video stores). It's a pleasant, leafy shop which tries hard to bring together the foreign community in Kyoto . If anything, it is worth supporting, given the paucity of shops like this in the city and indeed, Kansai. Their website address is www.greenebooks.net

Osaka/ Kobe

The slightly chaotic Kinokuniya is at the heart of Hankyu Umeda station in Osaka . The English language section is located at the back of the store. If you use the right hand entrance by the Big Man TV screens and plough through the shop in as straight a line as possible, you should hit it. They have slightly fewer books than Maruzen, but it is cheaper. They also stock magazines.

And in Kobe , there is an inexpensive, second-hand English bookshop north of Sannomiya station, close to the Shin-Kobe subway and ropeway. Called Wantage Books, it's something of a mixed bag. As well as stocking some literature, it is also a gold mine for collectors of 80's movie novelizations. Raw Deal, Warlock, Ghoulies Go To College - they have books here that the authors themselves have probably forgotten about. There is more to this shop than just that, however. It houses the offices of Kansai Time Out and profits are donated to NGO and charity organizations. A map can be found here.

In the major cities, it is also possible to pick up English (entertainment) magazines from Tower Records and HMV, but prices are somewhat inflated. How much is Heat magazine really worth? You may find yourself picking it up and putting it back, picking it up and putting it back.