Art in Japan>Museums, Galleries & Organizations>Art by the Book: Art Bookstores in Tokyo

Original articles on art, artists, architecture, exhibitions, galleries, museums and cultural institutions around Tokyo, Japan.

Art by the Book: Art Bookstores in Tokyo

by John McGee

Nadiff is a one-stop shop for contemporary art in Omotesando (Photos: John McGee)

What came first, the art book or the coffee table? Japanese traditionally wait out winter by gathering around the kotatsu—a coffee table with a sputtering red Seven-Eleven heat lamp underneath. As it's usually the only warm spot in the house, no one wants to leave. Better stack up some tomes of quality eye candy before the cold kicks in.

General bookstores like Kinokuniya (Tel: 03-3354-0131) and Good Day Books (Tel: 03-5421-0957) are good places to start, but the following specialize in Japanese and international art and design titles. Most gift-wrap for free. 

Aoyama 

Nadiff is one of the best, with a wide and regularly updated selection of contemporary art and design books, CDs from classical to experimental music, artists' editions (prints, T-shirts and whatnot), and art calendars. They also have a small gallery and café inside. Omotesando stn, exit A2. Casa Real B1F, Jingumae 4-9-8. Daily 11am-8pm. Tel: 03-3403-8814. www.nadiff.com 

(Nadiff also has branches in Bunkamura in Shibuya, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo in Kiba, and the Tokyo Opera City Gallery in Hatsudai.) 

On Sundays, inside Watari-um Museum 
in Gaienmae

On Sundays, in the basement of Watari-um Museum, is a smaller version of Nadiff. On the ground floor, they sell tons of postcards. Gaienmae stn (Ginza line), exit 2. Jingumae 3-7-6 (inside Watari-um Museum). Tue-Sun 11am-8pm. Tel: 03-3470-1424. 

Aoyama Book Center (ABC) has a decent selection, although art's not their specialty. Omotesando stn, exit B2. Cosmos Bldg, Jingumae 5-53-67. Daily 10am-10pm. Tel: 03-5485-5511. www.aoyamabc.co.jp 

Global Architecture bookstore inside GA Gallery has mostly modern and contemporary architecture books and back issues of magazines. Yoyogi or Harajuku stns. Sendagaya 3-12-14. Tue-Sun 12-6:30pm. Tel: 03-3403-1581. www.ga-ada.co.jp 

Shibuya 

Parco Book Center in Shibuya features design and fashion titles in addition to art. Logos Gallery is next door. Shibuya stn, Hachiko exit. Parco Dept Store, Part 1, B1, Udagawacho 15-1. Daily 10am-8:30pm. Tel: 03-3477-5873. 

Tower Records has a range of international art magazines plus books focused on foreign artists, designers and photographers. Shibuya stn, Hachiko exit. 7F, Jinnan 1-22-14. Daily 10am-11pm. Tel: 03-3496-3661. www.towerrecords.co.jp 

Jimbocho 

There are many, many shops here—it's a great place to wander.

Matsumura stocks rare and collectible art books. Jimbocho stn. 1F, Jimbocho 1-7. Mon-Sat 10:30am-6pm. Tel: 03-3295-5678.

Charles E. Tuttle publishes a variety of English-language books on Japanese art history and culture. Jimbocho stn. 1-3 Kanda-Jimbocho. Mon-Sat 10:30am-8pm. Tel: 03-3291-7071. 

Roppongi 

Porcelain producer TOTO has a small architecture bookshop downstairs from Gallery MA. Nogizaka stn (Chiyoda line), exit 3. TOTO Nogizaka Bldg #3, 2F, Minami-Aoyama 1-24-3. Tue-Sat 11am-7pm. Tel: 03-3402-7138. www.toto.co.jp/GALLERMA/ 

Bibliophile has design books and interior goods. Roppongi stn, exit 1. AXIS Building, Roppongi 5-17-1. Daily 11am-7pm (Sun 6:30pm). Tel: 03-3582-2707. www.axisinc.co.jp 

Aoyama Book Center (ABC) in Roppongi is smaller than in Omotesando, but it's is good for late, late night browsing. Roppongi stn, exit 1. Fuji Denki Bldg, Roppongi 6-1-20. Daily 10am-5:30am. Tel: 03-3479-0479. 

Tokyo Random Walk is the Roppongi branch of Charles E. Tuttle. Daily 11am-8pm (Sun 7pm). Tel: 03-3478-5016. www.bookshop.co.jp

©2006 John McGee

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