Kinokuniya Bookstores

Very friendly and polite staff! I am obsessed with their extensive stationary collection and especially their Hello Kitty and Rilakkuma merchandise !! Though they are on the pricier side of bookstores, the experience is worth it! They have an amazing arts selection and have great guest authors like Marie Kondo (author of «The Life-​Changing Magic of Tidying Up») coming this Saturday, ²⁄₂₀!
Make sure you head up to the 2^nd floor to Café Zaiya for Japanese food and treats!
#superkawaii

This place is mad noice and mad organized. At first I didn’t realize it was 3 floors… I thought it was just 1 main long floor that stretched really far back, but I guess it makes more sense now. The main floor has the cash registers, some new release books, and a bunch more novels, some popular books from the United States and even some books from Japanese authors. Pretty interesting compared to the typical modern day book store.
Downstairs has a bunch more traditional things I want to say. They have books imported from Japan that are completely in Japanese, to books about learning Japanese, to writing utensils/​stationary, to origami paper, and to fancy envelopes.
Upstairs however was my friends and I’s favorite place! Loaded with all sorts of manga written in English and in Japanese was the first thing we noticed. They had ton of stuff, including first edition popular mangas and stuff I’ve never even heard of before. Then a good amount of gundams here and there, figurines, and some other toys like an Attack on Titan mask. LOL. The best part about this place was the café upstairs. Obviously you can’t get the most freshest food because everything is pre-​packaged but they do offer a microwave to heat up your food!

I loved this place! It was really fun to wander around and look at all the books and imported paper goods. I would have bought a nice fountain pen… But they were just SO pricy compared to Amazon or any other seller online. I’m willing to pay 10−20% more to support a local business. But 70−100% more is asking too much.
I still loved it.

Popped in yesterday during the first snow of the season and had a nice look around. I used to live in Hong Kong and it felt very much like I’d been transported to Asia. The upstairs area was quite busy and a shock to the senses in how overwhelming it was — so much so that I didn’t realize there was a café. Will have to try it next time. Well located — so close to Bryant Park — and the staff members are very helpful.

I come here monthly for CoroCoro comics. They’ve gone above and beyond for me when I’ve missed an issue and needed to find a copy. Their prices are EXTREMELY affordable for import goods and they have a diverse selection.
The only thing I don’t like is their rewards system. For you forget the card, they have to look you up manually, which might mean going through their paper files. Believe me, they are dedicated enough to do it, even if it takes them 20+ minutes, which is why I can’t even down rate them for it. These employees don’t say «no» to the customer like most chains do. They create solutions.

Top three favorite bookstores in NYC (which amongst the available options, is saying a lot).
I always end up having a growing list of books-​to-​buy from new releases to (Japanese) cookbooks to art books to adult coloring books and pusheen cat calendars and on and on. It seems like independently all on my list will miraculously simultaneously be on display here and I can scratch off my list like that (if I can afford it).
On another note, every single time I need to buy a gift and feel absolutely clueless about where to start, this place is a godsend. They have amazing gifts from Japanese kitsch to quality well-​made Japanese imports (like scarves and absolutely beautiful leather wallets) to art and writing supplies to New York themed gifts (actually charming as an intimate New Yorker, not tourist cheeseball shit). Bravo!

Wanted to go to a store that had Japanese stationary. This is mainly a bookstore but it had a good amount of stationary items. Lots of pens (mostly gel & fountain), art supplies, notebooks, tea items, and a lot of cutesy or kawaii items. I could go on but I won’t.
I didn’t peruse the books but the impression that it’s mostly Japanese items. I believe they have a manga section but I was too caught up in the stationary.
Like most places; many items can be found online at a cheaper cost. There might be some items that you won’t find online unless you know how to navigate a Japanese website or something. But it’s worth a visit even if just to admire all the Japanese items.

This place is magical, I could spend hours in here. They do lack selection for merchandise. But I found some awesome stuff anyways. If you’re in New York, and love animé, you need to check this place out!

I love the manga floor! They have manga in English and Japanese on the second floor. There’s an info desk if you need help. It looked like the BL/​yaoi only came in Japanese, which was a bummer. There’s a bit of merch up there, too. I went to the café and bought a spicy salmon onigiri and chocolate cornet, which were just OK, but it was still fun they had some. The main floor has all of the usual fiction/​nonfiction, and there’s a section for just Japanese authors, which was cool. Some cute totes, too. Staff was pretty friendly.

This is the cutest store in all of NYC!!! It’s three stories talk and while I didn’t make it to the top floor I believe it’s a bakery. The second floor is full of books.
I spent most of my time on the bottom floor but didn’t get through all of it. I’m a stationary and you can spend so much time here just joyously combing through items. I resisted the urge and walked out with just one washi, some folders, and a notebook. Some of these will be Christmas gifts!
Depending on what you’re looking for, you can probably find it. They have a wide assortment of craft tools ranging from pencil cases, origami, watercolor stuff, and calligraphy. Not to mention ceramics, stickers and all sorts of toys.
One question I have is how often they stock products or bring in new ones. I was hoping to have a great selection of stamps and washi, but I was left a little wanting on that end.
The other thing to note are the prices. Certain things are a tad expensive, but I wouldn’t say outrageous considering they’re imported and very unique.
Aside from those two issues, I can totally see myself going to NYC just for this store.

Always an awesome stop in the city to check out some cool Japanese books or a nice place to find a cute gift for someone.
FYI: There are securities here that DO NOT ALLOW pictures to be taken. But I’ve taken these pictures before they stopped me.
Kinokuniya employees are very helpful and friendly, the store itself is tidy and clean and they have a café on the 2^nd floor!
1^st floor consists of English books ranging from DIYs to fiction books and etc. on this floor they have knick knack toys like Pusheen to nano blocks and random kikkerland novelties.
2^nd floor consists entirely of animé stuff, Japanese books, mangas (in Japanese) and animé figurines and etc. This is also the floor they have a café at that has small cakes, drinks and baked goods.
Basement floor consists of a huge assortment of Japanese stationary, plush, Japanese magazines and Japanese children’s books, DIYs and etc. I absolutely adore this floor and although some of the prices are a bit overpriced, they are adorable and it’s hard to escape this floor without grabbing something cute!
Kinokuniya is located right across from Bryant Park, so it’s nice being able to see the park sitting at the counter on the 2^nd floor of the café. Definitely stop in here if you want to immerse yourself in Japanese products.

If you are a stationery/​writing utensil junkie, you will never leave this place. I’ve been there for hours at a time… oopz. A wonderful selection of pens/​pencils, particularly if you like them very thin (e.g. .03 :) :)) — but also just snatched a 1.3 thickness pencil which is more useful than you would think. Tons of papers, stickers, notebooks, calendars (including hobonichi !!!), tapes glues staples of all sizes, erasers, etc. it’s so wonderful… if you’re into that kinda thing. WHICH I AM.
I love it here and always visit when back in NY. A very impressive selection of ITO En teas upstairs. I wish this place had bento stuff. But I suppose a bookstore has no obligation to carry lunch supplies.ahaa.

Whenever I am around Bryant Park I make sure I stop by here as well. I have somewhat of an addiction to stationery and this store makes my soul so complete. They have sooooo many unique office supplies! I’ve found a staple that didn’t require staples and tiny foldaway staplers too. But that’s not all, they have notebooks of all sizes, a huge selection of pens and pencils. But that’s just the stationary department.
They also have books, and magazines, and manga and figurines, and rice balls and bubble tea and etc etc. Haha it’s just an amazing store.

It doesn’t matter if you carry unique items, it does not give you a right to shame your customers.
I have overlooked the stuck up and inattentive service in the past, but I am not okay with being publicly embarrassed.
There were several workers doing what appeared to be nothing that watched me looking at a product called craftholic. I was admiring the softness of the stuffed animals and spent a lot of time trying to pick the right one because they were $ 38, which I think is a lot for a very simple stuffed animal, and they each seemed to vary in fluffiness. There were a few of these stuffed animals in small bins on the floor in vacuum packs that read «should be opened before sold», so, I figured that I should grab one from the variety that were open and hung all over the walls.
After the staff watched me (for at least 15min) take the animals off the wall to feel different ones, very happily choose the one I wanted, and then walk around with it for a bit, a seemly annoyed man called to me from across the room «mam, the samples are not for sale» — I was shocked because he was calling out to me without common curtesy to come help or confront me in a respectful way. I was obviously excited about my choice and then I was suddenly embarrassed of my mistake and sad that I could not buy what I had taken care to choose. These workers could have stepped in at any moment to help but instead they just watched me with blank stares. I asked a few questions, like «where can I find the animals» and the man still would not approach me «down there» he replied, «oh, downstairs… or, you mean those buckets?» «Yes» and he walked away. The other workers who were doing nothing just stared, I put the animal back on the wall and another annoyed worker came over to inspect if I had put it back properly, ignoring me except for a quick, rude, glance.
I was obviously upset and confused and the workers just chatted and laughed to themselves.
Rude.
I have shopped at Kinokuniya for years but I would rather shop online and import my own stuff, even if I have to pay more, than spend money at a store that does not care for their clients.
*Attn Kinokuniya: your «not for sale» Craftholic display does not make sense. You should probably fix that, or at least put up an obvious sign. Feel free to inbox me if you have a question about it. Also, some customer service training could be useful.

The best place ever. If you are interested in Japanese culture, animé/​manga, stationary, books or design, you will love this place. We spent around 2 hours wandering around in here. Their stock of stationary was overwhelming; so many pens to test and so many cute things to look at! There’s even a café on the top floor serving bentos, sushi, and Japanese pastries.

I love kinokuniya! I’ve been to the ones in San Jose, San Francisco, and LA. This location is one of the best, on par with San Francisco. The selection is expansive, location is great, and there’s even a little market to get drinks or onigiri. I expected it to be much smaller, but with three floors packed with books and Japanese items galore, it’s as good as it gets! There are books in English and Japanese, manga in English and Japanese, animé figurines and collectibles, magazines, stationary/​pencils/​pens, plushies, and so much more!
Staff of course are courteous and helpful. As they do in Japan, they offer beautiful free gift wrapping. It truly is an authentic Japanese experience.
The location here is excellent, right across Bryant park and a quick walk from Rockefeller /​Times Square.
Something unique about this store is that they sell wallets here from Japan. They sell compact high quality wallets that are as small as possible with all the functionality I need. Theres even a coin purse that opens like an origami box! A designated salesperson is there to help you make your selection.

I don’t know a thing about most Japanese media like manga or animé or literature. I came here accidentally to be honest.
With that said, they are more than novelty. Their store has this hygienic purity to it. Very clean, very bright, very white. They obviously had what I needed to research Japanese architecture. But they’re more than that.
I do like their design section in general. They’re in between a chain and an independent bookstore. They don’t have the generic selection of other chain book stores. You will find a selection of books from better but smaller publications that would be hard to find outside of the web, but nothing too rare or limited. So it’s a great place to preview a book before you buy it. Their prices are high though, maybe even marked up from retail.
Other than their design section, they also had a surprising but entertaining NY and pop culture section (books, posters and bric-​à-​brac) that is worth a browse. Again, they are more than just Japanese culture.
Downstairs was my latest surprise. I had come here dozens of times before I stumbled into their lowest level. You’ll find their bilingual magazine section here, but what enticed me the most was their supply and stationery there. Was a moment of serendipity when I found exactly what I needed for a project while not even looking for it.
I didn’t really include their café in this review, because the few food items I purchased tasted cheap and old that did not match its actual price. I guess it serves its main purpose as an excuse to sit down with a book upstairs.

This bookstore has all the Japanese stuff I’m interested in with books. If anything I just can’t read the Japanese stuff since i don’t read the language. Definitely went straight to the manga section… they had books my public library didn’t and I wanted to finish the series…
Their stationary section is super cute, but I don’t need any more pens or notebooks, even if they are super adorable. I would prefer using up all my stuff first. Next time when I run out I don’t mind coming here to get it. Drop by if you want a book or snack.
If anything that made me laugh was they actually had the book «Selfie» by Kim K… which I thought was ridiculous and not necessary. A picture book… of her life… this to me sort of shamed the idea of bibliography… –_-…I would much rather pick up a book about someone who did something to change the world in a most positive way then a book about her… partying and pretty pictures with whoever… That was a little disappointing to see.
Otherwise, great store!

This is certainly the best place in the city for Japanese stuff.
Their selection of design books, Ghibli movies (Pom Poko, The Cat Returns, Porco Rosso), animé figurines, and English manga is fantastic. They had two manga series I’ve heard well of as being philosophically deep — MONSTER and 21^st Century Boy. And they had comprehensive collections of both. They also have an even larger selection of Japanese manga. I do wish they had a bigger selection of English yaoi (BL).
There are also tons of random things, like animé character keychains, a poster of cameras, and a cute little portable battery pack.
They’ve got dope Japanese music playing in the background.
The staff member I asked for help was nerdy and cute and he actually knew where MONSTER was. Imagine that! Retail employees in Manhattan rarely even know what they’re talking about.
They close at eight; I wish they’d stay open later so I could browse all night!
A must-​visit both for tourists and locals.

3 floors of… well… really cool ^&*%.
I really had a lot of fun walking around here, even though I had no plans on buying anything. They almost did get me on numerous occasions, especially the basement area which boasts quite an extensive collection of stationery.
If you’re a fan of animé and/​or video games, you’ll enjoy the upstairs.
And the ground floor is a bookstore sure to please readers and non-​readers of any interest.

I like to use Japanese pens and paper. Always have. The pens just glide better on the premium stock notebook paper and make my note taking obligations a happier experience. I usually buy from
but when I’m really in a hurry, this store is conveniently located at Bryant park.
There are 3 floors. Top floor is manga and Japanese cute culture central, lobby holds the nice and proper books including magazines and downstairs is my stomping ground– pens and notebooks, and totoro. ;)
They are always well stocked and you can try the pens before committing and buying every color because it is bound to be awesome.
Like most Japanese establishments, the service is sweet and credit cards are handed back to you in both hands.
The security guard by the door oddly makes me feel safe, not that a bookstore wouldn’t be safe. But these days you just never know.