Anyone have a recommendation for English language books in Kyoto? If I go to Maruzen or Ogaki books, all I can find are tourist-oriented books about Kyoto or Hokusai or Ikigai…
I’m looking more for things on The NY Times best seller list… I couldn’t find Kamala Harris’ book or the new book by Japan Times writer Baye McNeil.
Anyone have any suggestions?
by hideyoshi99
7 comments
You’re talking about things for which the Japanese market is small, so putting them on shelves in brick and mortar stores is uneconomical. Used bookstores are hit and miss, so it’s Amazon for that.
[Keibunsha](https://maps.app.goo.gl/bM2Nm1xkwnUAwPkS8) is a good old fashioned bookstore if you crave that vibe.
Basement of BAL has a large selection of english books.
While this doesn’t strictly answer your question, for our family the answer has been to go to Osaka. We’re there at least weekly so it’s not a hard thing to add on to a trip.
Kinokuniya in Hankyu Umeda station, for example, has a great English book selection, including kids book series for our 8yo, who’s a voracious reader.
If you know the book you want just get it from an online book seller or used at a (online) marketplace. I get wanting to support independent bookstores but you’re talking about large chains anyway.
Love that Maruzen, unfortunately that was the first place i looked. 😞
Kyoto university has an English book sale right now until end of this week. I saw Harris’ face there maybe it’s the book you’re looking for. On the first floor of cafeteria Rune
Sometimes university bookstores have a nice selection of English books
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