Enjoy retro and the latest cuisines in Jimbocho, the city of books! 10 Recommended Restaurants and Cafes [Introducing History]
WellBe Inc.
10 retro and newest cuisines to enjoy in Jimbocho, the city of books! Explain the city's appeal and history
Known as the city of booksJimbocho (Jinbocho).
Many specialized secondhand bookstores are lined up, and although their scale is one of the largest in the world, it is actually also a popular area for restaurants, starting with pure coffee shops and curry shops.
In this article, I will explain the history and appeal of Jimbocho as a city of books, and also introduce 10 recommended restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy visiting secondhand bookstores.
Please use it when searching for restaurants in Jimbocho.
Jimbocho's History and Culture: The Attraction of Secondhand Bookstores and Student Districts
It's in the Chiyoda-ku district of TokyoKanda-Jimbochois known as one of Japan's leading secondhand bookstore districts, and it has also carved history as a student district where many universities gather.
In this part, we will explore the appeal of Jimbocho, where its development as a city of books intersects with its history as a city of learning.
The birth and development of a secondhand bookstore district
It was in the latter half of the Meiji period that Jimbocho developed as a town of old books.
After the Meiji Restoration, Western learning spread, and many schools and universities sprung up in this area.
As a result, bookstores dealing with academic books and old books opened one after another, and Jimbocho naturally grew into a secondhand bookstore district.
Despite being affected by the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923) and World War II, the secondhand bookstore culture in Jimbocho did not decline, and it regained even more vitality after the war.
Currently, there are over 100 secondhand bookstores, and it is one of the world's leading secondhand book towns visited by people seeking books from home and abroad.
Jimbocho as a student district
The Jimbocho area is home to many universities, from the Meiji period to the present.
Meiji University, Nihon University, Senshu University, etc. are nearby, and it has developed as a place where students gather since ancient times.
The characteristic of Jimbocho as a student district is that there are many cheap and hearty restaurants.
In particular, there are many famous curry shops, and it is popular as “Jimbocho Curry.”
There are also many long-established coffee shops and teishoku restaurants, making it a place of relaxation for students and researchers working hard on their studies.
Jimbocho's present and cultural events
Present-day Jimbocho is attracting attention as a center of modern culture while preserving the traditions of secondhand bookstores and student districts.
The “Kanda Used Book Festival” is held every fall, and many book lovers visit.
Also, famous films are screened at the movie theater “Jimbocho Theater,” and it is a place of exchange for people who love literature and movies.
Information on the annual used book festival Jimbocho Cherry Blossom Road Festival Spring Used Book Festival (2025)
Date: 2025/3/20 (Thursd/holiday) to 3/23 (Sun)
Time: 11:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 on the last day of cancellation in case of rain)
Venue: Kanda Jimbocho Secondhand Bookstore Street along Yasukuni Street
64th Tokyo Famous Kanda Used Book Festival (2024)
Date and time: 2024/10/25 (Friday) to 11/4 (Monday/holiday)
Time: 10:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 on the last day)
Venue: Kanda Jimbocho Secondhand Bookstore District (along Yasukuni Street, Kanda Jimbocho Intersection, etc.)
Manga and fashion magazines are popular! In a city where foreigners are increasingly visiting
The number of foreigners visiting Jimbocho has increased more and more in recent years, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, foreigners accounted for nearly half of the customers.
Many foreigners are looking for Japanese comics and old fashion culture magazines.
In particular, there are many people who want to buy works they have watched in their own country locally, and there are many people searching for valuable old comics.
Also, there are many people looking for fashion magazines from the 90s before the development of SNS, and the second-hand bookstore “magnif,” which specializes in fashion magazines, is particularly popular.
Popular Restaurants in Jimbocho ~ Japanese Food, Bistro, Ethnic ~
Here are some popular restaurants in Jimbocho.
We picked up 7 restaurants with high reviews, from Japanese restaurants such as yakitori and tempura to meat and seafood teppanyaki bistros, and famous ethnic restaurants such as Thai food and Indian curry.
Jimbocho Yakitori French Restaurant “Jimbocho Gokita”
This is a new type of restaurant where you can enjoy fragrant charcoal-grilled yakitori with authentic French sauce.
The food is served by Chef Gokita, who has studied in authentic France and Akasaka in Tokyo.
They are so talented that they were selected for the Michelin selection in 2024.
We offer innovative French and yakitori cuisine using local chicken from all over the country, mainly Hinai chicken, and young pigeons and ducks from France.
There are also about 500 bottles, mainly from Japan and France, and the fact that you can enjoy pairing with wine is also a popular point.
The store is fully equipped with counter seats with eye-catching cherry blossoms and a completely private room that can accommodate up to 6 people.
You can also watch the chef cooking from the counter seat.
Jimbocho Gokita
Address: 2-4-9 Nishikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 5 minute walk from Jimbocho Station on the Hanzomon Line/Mita Line
Business hours: 17:30 ~ 23:00
Closed on Mondays (closed twice a month on Sundays, subject to change due to the day before public holidays, etc.)
Jimbocho's tempura and tendon “Hachimaki”
This is a famous tempura restaurant founded in 1931.
It is a historic house loved by great writers from the Showa era such as Edogawa Rampo, and the interior has a retro atmosphere yet exudes dignity.
The signature menu is the “conger eel shrimp tempura bowl,” which is so voluminous that the tempura sticks out of the bowl.
The most popular “Hachimaki” course offers a total of 15 dishes, starting with anago tempura, for 5,000 yen.
The unprofitable tempura that uses a whole bottle of conger eel is popular ◎
(*Course fees etc. may change depending on the season)
We also recommend the vegetable tempura of 6 kinds of seasonal vegetables, and the shrimp tempura bowl with 3 large shrimps on it.
We use specialty domestically produced “Koshihikari rice” for the tempura.
Hachimaki
Address: 1-19 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 2 minute walk from Jimbocho Station on the Hanzomon Line/Mita Line
Business hours: 11:00 ~ 21:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Jimbocho's teppanyaki/Japanese restaurant “Hideaway Teppanobu”
This is a popular teppanyaki restaurant run by brother chefs who have honed their skills at famous Japanese restaurants.
Based on authentic Japanese cuisine, we offer carefully selected high-class ingredients, such as Sendai beef and live lobster, in a luxurious dish.
Despite handling high-class ingredients, the prices are reasonable, and they have received rave reviews in word of mouth.
The most popular course is the Jimbocho Course.
It is a luxurious content where you can enjoy all 7 dishes, such as live lobster, wagyu sirloin steak, and foie gras chawanmushi.
The inside of the store is a chic space like a hideaway where adults can relax.
In addition to counter seats where you can enjoy the realistic cooking scene, there are also completely private rooms where you can spend your time privately.
Hideout teppan Obu
Address: Hayakawa/Aoto Building B1, 2-6-3 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 1 minute walk from exit A2 of Jimbocho Station on the Hanzomon Line/Mita Line
Business hours: [Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday] 16:00-23:00 [Saturday] 16:00-22:00
Closed on Sundays and public holidays
Jimbocho soba and izakaya “Kongouan Jimbocho Branch”
It is an attractive restaurant with authentic Niigata “hegi soba” and fresh seafood dishes.
The characteristic of hegi soba is that it uses cloth seaweed as a binder.
As a result, it feels smooth in the throat and has a firm, chewy textureSmooth textureIt has been created.
We also have a full lineup of dishes other than soba, including seasonal sashimi and tempura.
We use plenty of ingredients from Niigata, such as fresh fish sent directly from the Niigata fishing port and vegetables purchased from greengrocers in Niigata.
The course starts at 3,278 yen for 6 dishes at a reasonable price, and the set includes not only hegi soba, but also Niigata's local cuisine “noppe soup,” tempura, sashimi, and even famous Niigata sake.
There is also an all-you-can-drink course with 5 and 9 kinds of local sake ◎
(*Course fees etc. may change depending on the season)
Kongouan Jimbocho
Address: Sengokuya Building 1F, 1-18-1 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 1 minute walk from exit A5 of Jimbocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku subway line
Business hours: [Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday] 11:30 ~ 14:30/17:00 ~ 23:00 [Sat] 11:30 ~ 14:30/17:00 ~ 21:00 (*varies by month) [Sundays and holidays] 11:30 to 15:30/17:00 to 21:00
Closed: year-end and New Year holidays
Jimbocho bistro “Forest Butchers”
This is a charcoal-grilled specialty restaurant that boasts exciting meat dishes and fresh vegetables.
Mainly red meat, you can enjoy hearty meat dishes such as “specially grilled pork tenderloin,” homemade sausages, and juicy flap meat steaks.
There are always 50 types of wine to go with the food, and the course price is nice, starting at 4,800 yen with all-you-can-drink included.
There are also courses where you can customize everything from appetizers to main dishes, and courses where you can fully enjoy 1 kg of roast beef.
(*Course fees etc. may change depending on the season)
The interior has a nostalgic atmosphere with a mix of Japanese and Western styles.
There are table seats with an atrium in the middle, counter seats with a sense of realism, and parlor seats that can be reserved for 15 people or more on the 3rd floor.
Forest Butchers
Address: 2-6-5 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 2-minute walk from Exit A1 of Jimbocho Station on the Hanzomon Line/Toei Shinjuku Line
Business hours: [Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday] 11:30 ~ 14:30/17:00 to 23:00 [Friday/Saturday] 11:30 to 14:30/17:00 to 23:30
Closed on Sundays and public holidays (12/29 to 1/5, year-end and New Year holidays)
Jimbocho Thai Restaurant “Menam's Hotori Jimbocho Main Store”
It is a long-established Thai restaurant that has been in business for over 37 years.
The menu is full of over 60 types of Thai cuisine, such as tom yum goong, Thai omelette, gayang (grilled chicken), and coconut-based Thai curry.
The store manager with 15 years of experience in Thailand and the chef who has been working for 15 years will make foodies groan with authentic Thai flavors.
They also have a full lineup of drink menus such as Singha, Chang, and Rio, which are the three major Thai beers, as well as Thai Mekong and Thai shochu Monsiam.
The restaurant is exotic yet cozy and cozy, and it responds to a wide range of needs, not only for meals with family and friends, but also for single people, girls-only gatherings, dates, drinking parties, etc.
Menam's Hotori Jimbocho Main Store
Address: Iwanami Jimbocho Building Annex 1F, 2-1 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 3-minute walk from the A6 exit of Jimbocho subway station
Business hours: [Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday] 11:00 to 15:00/17:30 to 23:00 [Saturday/Sunday/Holidays] 11:00 to 15:00/17:30 to 22:00
Regular holidays: year-end and New Year holidays, irregular holidays
Jimbocho's authentic curry “Mandala”
This is an authentic Indian restaurant founded 38 years ago.
The curry made by a chef from North India using our own blend of spices is exquisite, and it has won the Kanda Curry Grand Prix in the past.
There are over 17 types of curry on the menu alone.
We especially recommend the butter chicken masala, which uses plenty of fresh tomatoes and is finished with over 20 kinds of spices.
Also, naan and tandoor chicken, which have a fluffy texture, are popular.
The store is located on the first basement floor of the building, and the pristine concrete walls and unique Indian sari decorations create a stylish atmosphere.
Mandala
Address: Shueisha Kyodo Building B1, 2-17 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 1 minute walk from Exit A6 of Jimbocho Station on the Toei Mita Line/Hanzomon Line
Business hours: [Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday] 11:00 ~ 15:00/17:00 ~ 23:00 [Saturday/Sunday/Holidays] 11:00 to 22:00
Regular holidays: irregular holidays
The retro atmosphere is popular ◎ Recommended coffee shop in Jimbocho
In Jimbocho, where there are many secondhand bookstores, there are also many long-established coffee shops with a retro atmosphere.
Here, we have carefully selected and introduced the 3 most recommended houses.
Coffee shop “Milonga Nuova” in Jimbocho
Established in 1953.
The store closed once in 2022, but it was relocated and reopened in the immediate vicinity, and it has a history spanning 70 years.
It is a shop with the theme of a music cafe, and the interior is a comfortable space where Argentine tango plays at a volume that is not too loud.
Many records are tightly arranged on the shelves, and matchboxes from various places are displayed near the counter seats, which tickle the sensibility of vintage lovers.
The menu also has an old-fashioned coffee shop-like lineup, and you can enjoy blended coffee, straight coffee such as Mandelin and Columbia, cafe au lait, cappuccino, milkshakes, etc.
The food menu offers spicy dry curries and daily cakes.
Milonga Nuova
Address: 1-3-3 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 2-minute walk from Jimbocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line/Mita Line/Hanzomon Line
Business hours: [Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday] 11:30 to 22:30 [Saturday/Sunday/Holidays] 11:30 to 19:00
Regular holiday: Wednesday
Coffee shop “Sabouru” in Jimbocho
It is a long-established store that has been in business for over 70 years.
There is an old wooden sign, totem pole, and an old red telephone at the entrance, and the interior is decorated in the style of a mountain hut, and folk crafts are lined up everywhere, and it is filled with a deep atmosphere.
The popular menu includes a total of 7 types of cream soda.
We use ice from specialty stores so that the flavor doesn't fade until the end.
Also, “strawberry juice” is popular, and the crispness of raw strawberries and ice, which dared to leave their texture, is irresistible.
The recommended food menu is thick sliced pizza toast.
Although it is a classic coffee shop menu, the master's commitment to always grilling it twice shines through.
Please enjoy this delicious dish that is crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and the cheese on top is thick and delicious.
Sabouru
Address: 1-11 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 1 minute walk from Exit A7 of Jimbocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line/Mita Line
Business hours: 11:00 to 19:00 (subject to change depending on the day)
Closed on Sundays and public holidays (there are irregular holidays)
Coffee shop “Sabouru 2” in Jimbocho
It opened in 1982 on the same street as a sister store of “Sabouru.”
“Sabouru” mainly serves coffee shops and light meals, but “Sabouru 2” mainly offers reasonably priced set meals and Western food menus.
The signature menu is Neapolitan, and most customers order it so popular.
The pasta is moist, chewy, and soft, and the ketchup is rich in the old fashioned way, and is well entwined with ingredients such as bacon and onions, so you can eat it smoothly even though it has a lot of volume.
After the meal, be sure to try our specialty coffee.
Sabouru 2
Address: 1-11 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: 0 minute walk from Exit A7 of Jimbocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line/Mita Line
Business hours: 11:00 to 19:00 (subject to change depending on the day)
Closed on Sundays and public holidays (there are irregular holidays)
*Reservations can only be made for dinner (4 people or more)
How was it?
In this article, we unraveled the history and culture of Jimbocho as a city of books, and carefully selected popular restaurants and cafes to stop by in between visiting secondhand bookstores.
Curry has become particularly famous in recent years, but it is also an area where a variety of cuisines gather, such as pure coffee shops that have continued since ancient times, new French yakitori, high-class bistros, and delicious soba izakayas.
If there is a store you are interested in, be sure to visit it.
Text by AutoReserve Editorial Department
＜What is AutoReserve＞
Gourmet site with the highest number of restaurants that can be reserved.
Here are some recommended salons that are popular in Tokyo!
Beauty experiences such as hair salons and massages in Tokyo are one of the experiences you can't miss.
Let's spend time to heal our daily fatigue and refresh our mind and body.
Ebisu/ “SULIR HAIR AND NAIL DESIGN”
A total beauty salon for hair and nails located in Ebisu, near Shibuya.
High quality treatments and sophisticated designs will brighten up your special day.
Let's bring out the beauty while relaxing in a calm space.
Daikanyama/ “ARC+ Daikanyama (Ark)”
A popular hair salon in the Daikanyama area.
Bring out your appeal with styling that incorporates the latest trends.
Have a special hair experience in a stylish shop.
Ginza/ “head CONCIERGE Ginza Store”
A head spa specialty store where a group of nationally qualified specialists lead to “ultimate sleep.”
It is a technique of pressing pressure points on the head called the deep muscle approach, which leads to ultimate sleep.
Various effects can be expected, such as “relieving insomnia,” “improving shoulder stiffness,” “recovering from eye strain,” and “anti-aging.”
Enjoy the ultimate head spa that goes beyond relaxation.
Akihabara, Kanda, Awajicho/ “Esthetic & Relaxation WELLFIT” *Women Only
This salon is within walking distance of Kanda, Awaji, and Akihabara.
“Esthetic & Relaxation WELLFIT” is a talented salon attended by professional beauticians and therapists.
This treatment can also be used for pelvic correction, small face, beautiful skin, head spa, and maternity care.
It is a powerful salon that has been published in over 50 beauty magazines and specialty magazines. Please enjoy the industry's most advanced technology.
Shinjuku/ Shinjuku Relaxation Salon “Sea the Night”
Despite being in a good location, a 2-minute walk from Nishi-Shinjuku Station and a 7-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, it is a salon where you can forget the hustle and bustle of the city and relax both mentally and physically.
A private salon where you can relax and unwind, based on the concept of “the best healing for both mind and body in a luxurious space.”
Skilled therapists provide a high level of technology.
Yotsuya/ “UREROBAS Yotsuya Store”
A dry head spa salon located about 10 minutes by train or taxi, close to Shinjuku.
At this dry head spa specialty store, you can experience a dry head spa where you can be healed by all five senses.
The head spa at this salon is characterized by preparing the body from the ground up, and you can expect not only to take care of your head and eye fatigue and concerns about sleep, but also to lift your face and tone up your skin.
Please spend a blissful time on your way home from shopping or sightseeing.
Oshiage (Tokyo Skytree)/“Zipangu Esthetic Room Oshiage Store”
The salon is located just 10 minutes from Ueno, right next to Oshiage Station (Tokyo Skytree).
We have prepared a variety of facial menus with an emphasis on results, and we provide treatments tailored to each customer's skin concerns.
All of our estheticians have over 10 years of extensive experience.
This beauty salon is recommended for those who are concerned about repeated lift-ups, aging care, open pores, and rough skin.
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- WellBe Inc.
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- WellBe Inc.
- WellBe operating company
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