Known for its secondhand bookstores and curry shops, Jimbocho hasn¡¯t traditionally topped tourists¡¯ lists ¡ª but that could soon change. Time Out magazine recently declared the area the ¡°¡± ¡ª 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.
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