Sanseido Book Store

12/13/2012

I love this store! Do not let the fact that you don't speak Japanese deter you from visiting! Sanseido has some great office supplies-I find it hard to resist the cute page flags and tabs, the notepads and the PENS! The Japanese rule the pen-making market!

If they don't have a book in stock, they will order it for you. I tried to find a Japanese craft book online, and it would have cost more than $60 on Amazon. Sanseido ordered it for me and I paid less than $25. Yes, there is mark-up, but when you think of the exchange rate and SHIPPING, it makes complete sense.

I always get great customer service when I go. There is a sweet older gentleman and a very kind lady who are often there. And I love the Japanese-style of payment where you use the tray to pay and receive your change...

My only wish (in case Sanseido is reading this!) is that they carried a few more modern Japanese craft books and washi tape! If they sold washi tape, this would be a 10-star review ;)

6/10/2010

Most of the books here are in Japanese, so I can't comment on them too much (I read about three characters), but some are in English; there are lots of magazines with fun pop cultural stuff in them too (again, generally in Japanese except for random "Engrish" that is generally used out of context anyway).
I usually go here for the cool stationery and sideline/gifty stuff, pens and school supplies, etc.

I bought a book of Asian Cocktails (in English) that was comparable in price to what you'd pay in a B&N etc. (cover price).

Be sure to get your punch card at the front and don't forget to use it!

I'm sure I'd get more out of this store if I read Japanese, but it's still an enjoyable shop for me, and I'm sure other non-Japanese-readers will feel the same.

12/27/2010

One of the better Japanese book stores in the entire United States.  (Unfortunately there are few to be found coast to coast).  

We found the store to be exceptionally clean and organized as you might expect to find in Japan, book and DVD selection was excellent.  Very nice stationary and pen selection.   A little pricey but when you convert our weak dollar to the Yen the prices are about right as to what you would expect in Japan, you just don't have to import it yourself.  

Nice friendly staff and when making your purchase it it is greeted with authentic Japanese etiquette.

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• See all photos from Greg D.

7/23/2008

Sanseido replaces the former bookstore that was located in the back corner of Mitsuwa, but right up front near the entrance.  They carry a variety of Japanese (and some English) books, Japanese CDs, and -- my favorite -- stationery goods and gifts.

I can't really speak to the book selection, other than that they had some nice craft books near the back.  The stationery and gifts section was pretty nice though, and included gift items like purses and containers, as well as stationery sets, pens, and some origami paper.  You won't find much in the way of character stationery goods, like those from Sanrio and San-X, but they had some very pretty traditional Japanese designs.

10/4/2010

I've been here several times hoping it would improve but after a few years, it hasn't.  The magazine selection is inconsistent: what they have one month, they either might get it every month (the obviously super popular ones), once in a while, or once a year (even if it's a monthly publication).  I've seen them markup some items for some ridiculous rate as well; a magazine that is 800 yen should NOT be $14.00 before tax.  And that's their "exchange rate"?  Even with the dollar being absurdly weak now (where 5 years ago, 800yen = $8, now 1000yen = $12).

The music selection's very spotty and almost biased. It's like they don't care what's popular on the charts, just which artists are popular (SMAP, Ayumi Hamasaki, Tohoshinki) and nothing more.  Of course their prices are Japanese retail with markup so it's not even worth it. They have some indies and niche label albums but the selection is literally half a shelf long tucked away.  Why bother?  They pretty much don't carry any anime/gaming soundtracks either so it only caters to fans of popular J-Pop artists that either don't order the album online or for convenience's sake.

Their manga selection is pretty terrible.  Granted they have a wide variety but the serialization is very spotty (i.e. they'll carry volume 3, 5, 10-20, 28 and never restock the in between volumes), they don't carry anything within a year  or two old (sans popular Jump Comics titles), it almost makes me think they buy their manga either second-hand (Book-Offs are VERY cheap for second hand books in Japan and California) or until it goes on discount from their suppliers.  Don't bother getting translated manga either, stick with Borders for those.

Their book selection is OK, I've seen better but they have the basics covered.  Stationary selection is decent as well but I can find a Korean shop for much cheaper with the same quality.

The old bookstore was better, it's a shame this place can't do a better job catering to a wider variety of customers nor being consistent in their selection of pretty much anything.  You can go online and find the same item for cheaper, and thensome.

6/25/2008

Sanseido took over where the old bookstore used to be in Mitsuwa.

I have got some great deals there with CDs, they usually cost less for me than when I have to import them myself. And that is a plus!

Although, I must say ever since Sanseido took over from the other bookstore I have been disappointed with their selection. They don't have as many CDs stocked, and some of their magazines, at least the ones I'm looking for, aren't carried anymore... or maybe getting snatched up too fast.

I do know that you can get a subscription service from them for any magazine I believe, but to me half the fun is finding something you want to buy RIGHT THERE.

The employees are very friendly and the whole store is very clean and organized.

1/2/2011

The closest thing to a Kinokuniya in Chicago, Sanseido Bookstore has Japanese books, manga, stationary items, and DVDs and CDs. The staff is friendly and understand English too. They also gave me a card that tallies up every $10 I spend here, and I was told that when I reach the 20th stamp, I'd get $10 off. A highly expensive target, but seeing as I spent close to $90 today, I don't think it's very hard to reach that goal.

5/21/2010

3 year anniversary, so this week until 5/23, you get DOUBLE points on your membership card; I got my $10 gift certificate :-)

it is always good to take a stroll here after eating the santouka ramen; browsing through some magazines, the CD selection is not that amazing (to be frank); glancing at those mini bunku books is also lot of fun; the bookstore, like any japanese enterprise in the usa, is mainly targeted at Japanese people, so if you don't read japanese, you would be limited to a little corner; also the merchandise they carry, incl. books are kind of "limited"; overall, it is still a good place to wonder around

it is not Junkudo i know, sth. is better than nothing :-)