33. BOOKS Kinokuniya

Kinokuniya opened its doors in Tokyo in 1927, and have grown to be the largest chain bookstore in Japan today. The shop first opened in New York in 1981 in Rockefeller Center, serving the local Japanese community. They made the move to Avenue of the Americas, and a larger space, in 2007, expanding to three floors. The basement is geared toward Japanese speakers, with books, magazines, DVDs and stationery from Japan;, a second floor with manga titles in English and Japanese, comic books, t-shirts, collectible figures and Cafe Zaiya, selling bento boxes and Japanese pastries; and a first floor filled with books for English speakers that includes an extensive selection of graphic novels, art and design books, cookbooks, travel books, and children’s books. Enjoy Jazz music throughout.

Books Kinokuniya is located in ten cities across the United States, with one shop in New York City, located at 1073 Avenue of the Americas near 42nd Street, and across the street from Bryant Park.