Time Out has just revealed its annual list of the world’s coolest neighborhoods, and at the very top is Jimbōchō, Tokyo, a literary paradise made for book lovers. Often called “Book Town,” this storied district is home to more than 150 bookstores, publishing houses, and academic institutions, making it a dream destination for bibliophiles and culture seekers.
A longtime hangout for Tokyo’s intellectuals, Jimbōchō sits just steps from the city’s bustling business districts yet feels worlds away. Low-rise, slightly timeworn buildings house some 150 second-hand bookstores alongside old-school coffee shops and fragrant curry houses. Here, vintage volumes rub shoulders with avant-garde art books, and literary clubs like the Tokyo Book Binding Club keep the written word alive.
Visitors can spend the morning treasure-hunting at Isseido Booksellers or Kitazawa Bookstore, then recharge at retro favorite Sabouru, a beloved coffee spot since 1955, or Kanda Burajiru, which serves up authentic Japanese cuisine.
The world’s coolest neighborhoods: The full list
The Liberties, Dublin Tupungato / Shutterstock
Jimbōchō, Tokyo
Borgerhout, Antwerp
Barra Funda, São Paulo
Camberwell, London
Avondale, Chicago
Mullae-dong, Seoul
Ménilmontant, Paris
Nakatsu, Osaka
Vallila, Helsinki
Labone, Accra
Nguyen Thai Binh, Ho Chi Minh City
Anjos, Lisbon
Digbeth, Birmingham
Red Hook, New York
Perpetuo Socorro, Medellín
Burwood, Sydney
Linden, Johannesburg
Former French Concession, Shanghai
Quartieri Spagnoli, Naples
Bencoolen, Singapore
Endoume, Marseille
Plateau-Mont-Royal, Montréal
The Liberties, Dublin
North Melbourne, Melbourne
Portales, Mexico City
Davenport, Toronto
Little River, Miami
Kemang, Jakarta
Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Barranco, Lima
Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur
Clarksville, Austin
Margit-negyed, Budapest
Glen Park, San Francisco
MiZa, Abu Dhabi
Villa Devoto, Buenos Aires
Mehrauli, Delhi
Poblacion, Metro Manila
AloJapan.com