Inside The Six Coolest Bookstores In The World

Published November 18, 2015
Updated February 1, 2018

Bart’s Books (Ojai, California)

Coolest Bookstores Bart's Books Outdoor
Coolest Bookstores Barts Books Umbrellas
Coolest Bookstores Bart's Books Chairs
Coolest Bookstores Bart's Books Tables
Inside The Six Coolest Bookstores In The World
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Not all books are kept cooped up in stuffy rooms. At the corner of West Matilija St. and Canada St. in Ojai, California, a labyrinth of bookcases can be seen stretching out from beneath the shade of a tin roof.

What once began as a man’s way of sharing his excess of books with his community now makes up the largest open-air bookstore in the world. Despite toting a collection nearing one million books, this store chooses to operate on the honor system, allowing patrons to simply select what they’re interested in and leave payment of their own volition.

The Jimbocho Neighborhood (Tokyo, Japan)

Coolest Bookstores Jinbocho Shelf
Coolest Bookstores Jinbocho Sidewalk
Coolest Bookstores Jinbocho Street
Coolest Bookstores Jinbocho Shelves
Inside The Six Coolest Bookstores In The World
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Whereas the previous locations are no more than single buildings or confined areas, Tokyo’s Jimbocho neighborhood boasts more used bookstores than any other location in Japan. This mecca of used books didn’t have an easy start, however. After a fire wiped out the neighborhood in 1913, a fresh crop of publishing houses—followed by its famous bookstores—made the area a paradise for writers and artists from all over Japan.

While the majority of these shops carry books that are written strictly in Japanese, there are numerous shops that specialize in foreign titles—mainly English—that are priced rather cheap.

author
All That's Interesting
author
Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.