Kyoto Used Book Fair at Shimogamo Shrine!

Even if you don’t read Japanese, you still might want to buy some Japanese books on your visit to Japan. Graphically oriented books in Japan are very beautifully illustrated and the content is well communicated, visually. If you are interested in the arts, culture, travel, or just a window into an exotic bygone era, Japanese used books offer a look into another world and often at very reasonable prices at Kyoto Used Book Fair at Shimogamo Shrine! .

A sneak peak into Book Fair at Shimogamo Shrine!

Kyoto has 3 major used book fairs, or festivals (matsuri), as they are called in Japanese. The mid-summer fair is held at Shimogamo Shine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It takes place in Tadasu-no-mori forest which is said to be the only patch of virgin, primordial forest in the city and is actually older than Kyoto itself. You can browse from 800,000 used books, many very old, under an expansive canopy of deciduous trees amid the cry of cicadas. Along the east side of the fair runs the Izumigawa Stream, so you can also hear the cooling trickle of moving water.

It is quite an experience!

Discovering Treasures at Shimogamo Shrine

Every summer, something special happens at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto—the Kyoto Used Book Fair. It is one melting pot that all book lovers from across Japan look forward to every year. Among the ancient trees and serenity of the shrine, this fair seats well with tradition combined with a love for books.

The Ritual of Exploring Stalls

Early in the morning, the booksellers spread their books on all topics in front of them. Novels secondhand, rare editions, books on sundry topics—all are well arranged. Then, people start arriving, hungry for forgotten treasures and great stories.

Literary Discussions and Readings

Embedded within the Shimogamo Shrine is a platform on which authors and experts meet up to discuss books. It captures, in the plain view of all, that it is a space for discussing literature, philosophy, and ideas of storytelling. It is a venue where ideas come alive with the soothing sounds of nature around.

The sellers are most often passionate elderly folks who have spent years gathering books. They like to talk about the favorite things they have found, and quite often, why they liked a particular book. Each of the books they vend seems to have a story behind them, which really makes the place even more personable.

Throughout the day, families get to explore together. Children want to search in children’s books, and adults seek out academic texts and novels. It is a place where everyone will find something interesting and enriching.

Magical Evenings at Shimogamo Shrine

A day that waxes soon reaches the fair. Lanterns lit, gentle illuminations on the shrine. This beauty increases with evening in its perfect setting: a readingsometime and reflection time.

Celebrating the Love of Books

While providing a platform for buying books, the Kyoto Used Book Fair at Shimogamo Shrine is all about celebrating the simple joys that books bring to our lives. It shows how literature can connect people and inspire us irrespective of our age or background. If you visit, you will find out how stories live here and how the love of reading is cherished by all joining in.

Treasures Available

Most of the books available are out of print. There are of course novels and history books, some English language books and an extensive collection of art and culture books, a lot on traditional Japanese culture. For example, I saw a 12 volume set of books on the history of Japanese art that would sell for around $1,000 now that was just $50. Several vendors offered large selections of vintage manga. The promotors say that there are about 10,000 children’s books. Prices start at 100 yen. There are also a lot of posters and even some Japanese woodblock prints.

Big Three Vintage and Second Hand Book Fairs in Kyoto

Spring (May 1st to 5th)
Haru-no-Kosho Daisokubai-kai (春の古書大即売会)
venue: Miyako Messe (Kyoto International Exhibition Hall)

Summer (August 11th to 16th)
Shimogamo Noryo Furuhon Matsuri (下鴨納涼古本まつり)
In 2009 there were 33 book stores from Kyoto, Osaka and Shiga offering some 800,000 used and rare books.
venue: Shimogamo Shrine Tadasu-no-Mori Forest
hours: 10am to 6pm (last day closes at 4pm)

Autumn (October 30th to November 3rd)
Aki-no-Furuhon Matsuri (秋の古本まつり)
In 2009 there were 17 book stores offering some 200,000 used and rare books.
venue: Chinon-ji Temple
hours: 10am to 5pm

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