People love it with the exception of a couple of faultfinders..one of them complains of being "ethnically profiled"
Also has some kind of cafe
Kinokuniya Bookstores
Category:
Bookstores
[Edit]
1073 Ave of the AmericasNew York, NY 10018
Neighborhoods: Midtown West, Theater District
(212) 869-1700
- Nearest Transit Station:
- 42 St. - Bryant Pk (B, D, F, M)Times Sq - 42 St. (S)5 Ave. (7, 7X)
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat 10 am - 8 pmSun 11 am - 7:30 pm
- Price Range:
- $$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1.1 Miles
from Kinokuniya Bookstores
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275 reviews for Kinokuniya Bookstores
Review Highlights What's this?
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"the best bookstore for buying thick cut japanese style bread." In 188 reviews -
"Cafe Zaiya is also a great spot for reasonably priced food." In 50 reviews -
"Lots of art books based on video games and manga." In 101 reviews
Rating Distribution | Trend
- A Yelpy Insight: 20- and 30-somethings both posse up at this place. See more places they like.
275 reviews in English
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Review from Ashley D.
Charlottesville, VAA little bit pricey, but you can find some really cool stuff here.
I always leave with something new & it's a place I always go to when i travel to NYC.
Staff always seems friendly too. -
Review from Nancy T.
Brooklyn, NYI can spend hours here! It is never too crowded, and they don't bother you about reading the books before buying them. Just no photos. The cafe upstairs is really nice, and they have so much to look at here.
Friendly and polite staff, and very clean environment. -
Review from Cat P.
A visit to New York City, especially if you're staying around Time Square, is not complete without a trip to Kinokuniya, the only location of this Japanese bookstore chain on the east coast.
Kinokuniya is a three-level bookstore selling English- and Japanese-language books as well as gifts, stationary, clothing, phone accessories, and more. The store is well-organized and well-lit, making it super easy to navigate.
They have an impressive manga collection on the second floor for all aficionados of Japanese comics. Additionally, there is also a small cafe on the second floor that serves coffee and tea and also sells Japanese-French pastries. The second floor is also home to a shop within a shop, a small luxury goods shop that rents out a space inside Kinokinuya. From them, I get high-quality, handmade pocket squares for the men in my life (pricey but the details show).
The main floor houses Japanese and English literature, everything from books on architecture to children's picture books. It's also where you would go to check out once you're ready.
The basement is no less delightful than the other floors. Here you can find things like fancy ballpoint pens, zoro (surprisingly quite expensive), Sanrio characters, and magazines.
There's something for everyone at Kinokuniya, particularly Japanophiles. But even if you're not into the more decidedly Japanese things, like manga and collectible figurines, you might still appreciate the range of available lit and polite customer service. -
Review from Fashion G.
Manhattan, NYThe food is affordable and the atmosphere is awesome !
The love the fashion magazine that they sale. -
Review from Helen C.
Brooklyn, NYEver since I discovered Kinokuniya, I always drop by when I need to buy manga or Japanese fashion magazines. This bookstore is my favorite place to go to when I am bored or when I am nearby Bryant Park! They have a large selection of Japanese-language manga, which is not a surprise.. since IT IS a Japanese bookstore. But they also have a selection of English translation manga as well!
There are three levels in this bookstore. The basement is where you can find mostly Japanese arts & crafts, novels, and other books. In addition, there is a cute stationary area where you buy pens, notebooks, planners, arts & craft supplies, and more! First floor is mostly English-language books (novels, fashion, or travel books). Lastly, third floor is where all the manga books are located. There is also a small cafe (which I never tried before). If you are a manga lover, or love the Japanese culture, come to this bookstore and explore! It's a great way to pass time!
I gave this bookstore 5 stars because of the staffs. One time, I wanted to return a planner that I bought earlier. However, their return policy is on store credit only or exchange for another item. No refund. I really needed the cash (it was like $27) at that moment and pleaded for their help. In the end, they made an exception and pay me back the $27 in cash. I felt so grateful and since then, I always came back to Kinokuniya. FRIENDLY staffs as well! They are always smiling. -
Review from Ho T.
Mahwah, NJI ended up traveling to Japan after a vist to this bookstore. -
Review from Victoria D.
Alhambra, CALiving in LA, we have a kinokyniya bookstore where it a haven for japanese supplies. I was excited to go to the one in NYC because it has apparently more Japanese books and stationary.
I had ranging customer service when I was there because I had a man who got angry at me asking for a box for a 40 dollar cat decoration I got. I had a good checkout. I don't think I would travel to this location again. -
Review from Diana X.
An awesome place to explore, with a huge collection of Japanese books and manga. Upstairs were figurines and other collectibles too, the kinds that you only find in Japan. There is also a small selection of US books, but really the attraction here is the vast amount of Japanese books, magazines, and graphic novels. I would definitely recommend a visit for people interested in Japanese culture. Prices are reasonable, but a bit on the steeper side anyways as is with all these types of products. -
Review from Soraya B.
Brooklyn, NYI often come to Kinokuniya in order to purchase Stationery equipment for school, magazines and cute nicknacks here and there. Their selection is impeccable and I am usually happy with the items I purchase but I will not be returning to this particular store. The racial profiling is unbearable.
I've been followed around the store on a good number of my visits by either a security guard or ladies who stock shelves on the basement level. At first I thought it was a coincidence that the security guard that saw me enter at the front door would end up in the far back of the basement at the very moment I was looking for a Japanese language book. But after continuous happenings similar to this one I think its safe to say it is not a coincidence.
I am saddened by these events because if it weren't for incidents like this I would have happily returned to kino every time I needed a pick-me-up gift or a pen ran low on ink.
I have found a very good online alternative to kino for those who are interested:
http://Jetpens.com -
Review from George S.
Need something for your anime, manga, or J-pop loving niece? Need a book to practice your Japanese (that new Murakami book that's not out in the US by chance)? In the mood for some tasty Japanese food or tea? Need to get your hands on that new Steven King novel (in English)? Looking for a cute gift for a friend? Kinokuniya has something for EVERYONE!
Every time I'm in NYC I check out what's new at Kinokuniya. One the first floor you can find books in English from Japanese and other popular authors around the world. You can also find Japanese Magazines and the check out counter. On the second floor (top) you find the cafe, manga (in Japanese and English), anime, music, and art books. One of my favorite things on this floor is next to the cafe where you can find artisan Japanese crafts. On the lower level (basement) you can find books in Japanese and cute items for sale, like paper goods, a sushi cell phone charms, stuff animals, and so much more!
This is definitely a store you can spend hours in on every visit. I highly recommend this bookstore! -
Review from Jordan K.
Manhattan, NYThis place is my office supply nerd heaven. While a little pricy, their stationary section is amazing. They have a fabulous assortment of notebooks, which is great if you're really picky like me. They also have these fabulous little (maybe 1" x 3") blank "word cards" with rings that are perfect for vocabulary for foreign language study, and for some reason are impossible to find in other office supply stores. I'm also obsessed with this one style of accounting notebook that they sell, which is perfect for writing out verb conjugations, vocabulary, or I guess accounting. The store stocks everything from cute little novelty erasers to beautiful tea sets, and you can really spend hours there looking around.
Cafe Zaiya is also a great spot for reasonably priced food. They have yummy, cheap Japanese and American food options, from dorayaki to egg salad sandwiches.
When I was there this past weekend, there was a gentleman making beautiful Japanese geta in the store, which was really interesting to watch! -
Review from Gillian N.
Brooklyn, NYExtensive collection of Japanese fashion and art magazines -
Review from Holly C.
Brooklyn, NYthe best bookstore for buying thick cut japanese style bread. plus great stationary department in the basement! -
Review from Reid K.
I'm not a weird anime person, so I didn't come to Kinokuniya to look at manga. I am, however, a lover of clever stationary. In that area, Kinokuniya might be the best stationary store in the city. I always end up spending over an hour looking at the latest pens, desk gadgets and notebooks. Of course, everything is directly from Japan and is therefore severely overpriced, but I love showing off Japanese bling in college. so it's totally worth it. -
Review from Deb F.
Paris, FranceI've had many bad experiences here in the past of being racially profiled at the bookstore. There have been several instances where the employees behind the counter would look at me suspiciously and coach the security guard to follow me throughout the store. I was not surprised to find that the other foreign (white) customers were credited their own space without suspicion.
I've often been told that I'm childlike and too puny to hurt a fly but apparently my 'black-ness' raised some red flags at Kinokuniya.
All the purchases I've made here were decisions I regret. But I'm glad that I now have the good sense to take my business elsewhere. -
Review from Lily J.
Boston, MAGreat collection of pens and stationery downstairs. I always stop by for a few cute notebooks or trinkets. -
Review from Monique D.
Flushing, NY"Yay! I'm a fan" - indeed! Kinokuniya has a lot to offer from books to cute/funny stationary items like the "Oyaji" folders to Cafe Zaiya located upstairs for a variety of edible goodies from bento boxed type of meals to green tea cake rolls, you'll probably end up purchasing something even if you just intended on browsing the fashion magazine section.
I come here specifically for their Blue Q accessories, I absolutely love them and love how they're made from recycled rice bags!
I also bought the cutest little panda coin purse and hot pink/neon yellow-greenish headphones from here too (people always ask me where did I find them haha).
I like going through their manga section as well as they have a nice variety of manga in Japanese and in English. And they have markdown sections throughout the store to ranging from 30% to 75% off (I got my Flame "Fundamental Loop" single from here for $1.25!! Price was originally around $10! :-P).
Also if you're big into photo books, especially on Japanese architecture and street/graffiti art, they have a nice section available to browse through as well (I love this section, as well as the magazine section on the first floor). The basement offers the Japanese books as well as Japanese language books/study materials, the stationary section and a ntt/Docomo service area (Japanese cellphone provider).
Now, with the good is the bad - prices. The books at Kinokuniya can have you a little stunned due to how much some of these books (as well as music CD's and anime) are going for. And you'll be even LESS likely to buy any books from here without checking out Book-Off first. Example - a Japanese book I wanted was $25 at Kinokuniya, at Book-Off? $1.
Another bad thing is if you're a decent looking Japanese woman or hanging out with a decent looking Japanese woman...be prepared for the guys who hang out at places like Kinokuniya or Book Off trying to pick up Japanese women.
I unfortunately went with a woman I was tutoring in English and a man sitting across from us interrupted us, first inquiring about my lessons for her then trying to request she be HIS language partner (dude was like 60 and she's in her late 20's/early 30's), then as we got ready to leave he starts asking for her number...when she declined (and she kept looking at me, I sent mind messages telling her "No!! Go for the throat!" Lol) he gave her his number, almost begging for her to call him haha.
We gave Kinokuniya two more chances, and both times we were interrupted so we never went back for tutoring.
Other than those 2 issues, (well during comic/anime conventions the place gets even more crowded with cosplayers - not an issue for me but some people find cosplayers to be annoying haha) Kinokuniya is a cool store to check out to see what you can find.-
Mochaccino @ Cafe Zaiya in Kinokuniya - ain't it purday?! (… -
Massive book (and heavy) in the art/architecture section.
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Review from Juan C H.
CORONA, NYThis place as just about everything you could want from a book store. They have large sections of Japanese books . They even have a lot of the popular English books. If you can think about it, they probably have it or can get it for you. I sometimes come to Kino to browse their shelves. Only problem with that is that you can sometimes only browse based on the cover and backing because they have EVERYTHING shrink wrapped. It would be cool if they had one copy that wasn't shrink wrapped.
OMG the stationary downstairs is probably the best place to just go and browse. They have the coolest items. As Tiffany L stated in her review "nothing writes as smoothly as Japanese pens." I think this is the only place that can make me hyped about a pen. I swear they have the coolest pen. If they were cheaper I would probably leave with bags of pen each time I visit but its truly over priced for just a pen - even if its imported from Japan. Although I know people who will overpay for items just because its from Japan.
The downside to this marvelous store are the prices. EVERYTHING in this store is overpriced... well I can't say that about the cafe on the second floor because I haven't been close enough to it. I bought the entire series of the manga YOTSUBA and paid over 100 dollars. I ended up finding the series for less than half the price at another store. Although I was tempted to buy the Full Metal Alchemist box set that they had. That box has the coolest FMA Artwork on it. Pretty sweet.
Overall, great store and I recommend it to those who want to see cool Japanese items. If you plan on buying come with a lot of money because you will find a lot of cool stuff to buy. -
Review from Chloe H.
New York, NYExperience definitely varies with different workers. I usually go and grab something, most often it's stationery or a greeting card and whatnot. Today, I went there to get some refills for pens. Mind you, I don't know that much about pens as I'm not a pen expert. I just know I need 0.3 or thinner. There was this lady restocking the pens so I asked her if there's a refill for a pen I found there.
Anyway, I was like, oh I found similar refills for this pen, can you just point to me where is the 0.3? She was really bothered by it and was like, uh "NO, this is from JAPAN, no refills for this. THESE refills (point to the ones I found)are from HERE, that's why."
Uh ok lady. I thought that was the whole point of this store is to have shit from Japan? Kind of a weird attitude. I seriously never encountered a bad customer experience from a Japanese or Japanese-related establishment, whether it's restaurant or bookstore. Just weird more than anything. You could just say, oh sorry we don't carry it.
It could be the language barrier? I would suggest just go and buy stuff, don't ask for help. Or at least be choosy when you do. -
Review from Tunaidi A.
Baltimore, MDKinokuniya is a Japanese bookstore. There's three levels to this store, each exhibiting a variety of genres, including art and manga. At the top level, there's also a nice mini cafe serving Japanese pastries, drinks, and snacks.
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