English language bookshops in Nagoya

Mar 28, 2023

English language bookshops in Nagoya

With the advent of e-readers and smartphones, getting your hands on English language literature in Japan isn’t the challenge it once was. However, whether the book you are looking for isn’t available online, or you just like the feel and smell of turning pages, sometimes you must hold the book in your hands.

The following is a list of places to find English language books around Nagoya. The list is for information only and is not considered an endorsement.

Sanseido

Sanseido is a mammoth bookstore with absolutely masses of foreign language books. If you can’t find it here, you probably can’t find it in Nagoya. As well as an extensive collection of books, magazines, newspapers, and self-study, Sanseido is extremely convenient, being on the 8^th floor of the Takashiyama shopping complex in Nagoya JR Station’s Gate Tower. Children’s learning is particularly well represented, making it ideal for those concerned about their child’s English development in Japanese schools.

Where: Nagoya, Nakamura Ward, Meieki, 1 Chome−1−3 Takashimaya Gate Tower 8F (map)
Open: 10:00-21:00
Website: books-sanseido.co.jp

Junku-do

Also in the center of Nagoya, a mere three-minute walk from the JR station is Junku-do. Though their fiction selection has improved recently, this is perhaps not the place to come if you want to while away with a good thriller or a gripping historical novel. However, this is the place to go if you are studying Japanese. Education is most definitely the key here.

Where: Nagoya, Nakamura Ward, Meieki, 3 Chome−25−9 Horiuchi Building 1F (map)
Open: 10:00-21:00
Website: honto.jp

Maruzen

In the heart of Nagoya’s shopping district, Sakae, is Maruzen, a store dedicated to books and stationery. You can find all manner of language books, magazines, and travel guides, including a wide array of children’s literature. For anyone wishing to study Japanese they have an extensive collection of self-study textbooks, and those teaching English can find many ESL books. Applications for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test can be found by the cashier. Maruzen has undergone quite an extensive overhaul in the past couple of years, so if you have not been, it is time to pay a visit.

Where: 3 Chome-8-14 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya (map)
Open: 10:00-21:00
Website: honto.jp

Book Off Super Bazaar

Also in Sakae, you can find one of the biggest Book Offs in the city. Though the name may sound like something censors use to cover up curses when showing 90’s action movies on television, Book Off is part of the immense ‘Off’ recycle store empire. You can find all sorts of second-hand books, CDs, DVDs, and comics at the Book Offs around the city, yet most of them are pretty light on the ground when it comes to English language books. The Sakae branch, however, sells, buys, and exchanges some foreign language books, so it’s well worth a look.

Where: Nagoya, Naka Ward, Sakae, 3 Chome−4−5 Sakae Skyle Building 8F (map including details of branches in Tokushige, Minato Ward, and Nakamura Ward)
Open: 10:00-21:00
Website: bookoff.co.jp

Sanyodo

A shop for all your multimedia needs, Sanyodo has eight stores in Nagoya. Perhaps the pick of the bunch is the one directly near Issha Station on the Higashiyama subway line. CDs and DVDs can be rented, and foreign language books are found alongside stationery, study guides, and comics.

Where: 1 Chome-703 Yomogidai, Meito Ward, Nagoya (map)
Open: 9:00-23:00
Website: sanyodo.co.jp

Nagoya International Center Library

For those with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, the NIC library on the third floor has around 28,000 books, CDs, and movies for perusal. As the name suggests, these are predominantly geared toward cross-cultural understanding. Books available include dictionaries, encyclopedias, and Japanese language study aids, as well as literature, drama, and business books, many of which are available for borrowing. There is also a reading room with bulletins about international exchange and cooperation programs.

Where: Nagoya, Nakamura Ward, Nagono, 1 Chome−47−1 Nagoya International Center 3F (map)
Open: 09:00 – 19:00. Closed on Mondays, December 29 through January 3, and the second Sundays of August and February.
Website: nic-nagoya.or.jp

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Images: By Mark Guthrie