Kinokuniya is a Japanese bookstore chain founded in 1927 and this overseas location in Little Tokyo was temporarily closed in July 2025. The store used to be located on the 2nd floor of the Weller Court Shopping Center just above Marukai Market, but the bookstore recently reopened in a new space just across from the Weller Court Shopping Center in June 2026. The new space is twice as large as the previous space and this is currently the second largest Kinokuniya store in the United States. [Parking]: Aiso Parking Garage is across the street from the bookstore, but unfortunately it is now $1 per hour for the first two hours and $5 for each additional hour with a daily maximum of $18. $6 flat rate after 5 PM. [Selection]: The bookstore combines books, stationery, and gifts all in one place. There is a permanent corner for Studio Ghibli items with two giant plushies - Jiji from Kiki's Delivery Service and Totoro from My Neighbor Totoro. The bookstore has an incredible S-tier art book selection with sample books available for visitors to flip through those pages. There is also a section of the bookstore for a pop-up exhibit and the July exhibit corner was showcasing special commemorative illustrations and comments from Steel Ball Run: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. [Conclusion]: Look some of the books they sell here will be a bit more expensive than just buying them online, but the quality of the selection here is absolutely top-notch. This is one of those bookstores where anime enthusiasts can wander around for more than an hour and browse through English/Japanese manga, magazines, and anime merchandise. read more

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Kinokuniya in Little Tokyo has moved to a new and bigger location! They are located across from the Weller Court area. Inside, they have a massive setup and is definitely one of the bigger Kinokuniyas I have been to in America. They have all the usual goodies from books, manga, figures, stationery, blind boxes, and more. Stop by and you will most likely not leave empty handed! read more

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Great bookstore! Have been to the one in NY and the one in Oregon, was very exciting to see one open up in DTLA. Aside from manga there is a section with stationery, notebooks, writing tools, gifts, and more. Service is friendly and very helpful if you have any questions. Overall, great shopping experience here! read more

Kinokuniya - Bookstores Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I love their new location! Their current space is twice as large as their old one and has 2 entrances, so it's a lot more accessible. The store is a lot more organized, spacious and it's easier to appreciate their vast selection. For manga enthusiasts, they have a full wing just for manga. read more

Kinokuniya - Bookstores Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Kinokuniya just reopened into a larger space on the corner of San Pedro and Judge John Aiso St in Little Tokyo, LA. While it used to be on the second story of Weller Court, it is now on the street corner, directly outside of that shopping center. Came on the Sunday after July 4 and it was very busy, which wasn't a surprise, given that Anime Expo was finishing up down the street. Kinokuniya is loaded with manga, Japanese books, Japanese stationery, and random fun items. It's a fun store to find something; however, the costs are quite high. The cost is probably the reason that I don't buy things regularly from here; however, it is a favorite place to visit in Little Tokyo because they have so many fun things, their manga collection is quite extensive, and the pen selections are really nice. read more

Kinokuniya - New store, same area - Bookstores Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A massive, nostalgic slice of Japan in Little Tokyo~~~ If you remember the old Kinokuniya location, prepare to be blown away. This new space is absolutely massive and beautifully spread out! Walking inside instantly triggered so much nostalgia for the cute little bookstores and stationary shops I visited when I was in Japan. Everything is so neatly arranged and wrapped. They have an incredible selection of books in both English and Japanese. Seriously, they have everything you can think of: manga, magazines, cookbooks, adorable plushies, stationery, and T-shirts. When we went, they even had some amazing JoJo's Bizarre Adventure artwork on the wall and tons of Pokémon merch. My friend and I stopped by right after the anime convention ended, and the place was packed. Because it gets so busy, they have a strict "no drinks" policy, resulting in a hilariously massive pile of boba and coffees left at the front entrance. The employees seemed overwhelmed & nobody greeted us. My only real critique: Prepare yourself for the price tags. Everything is extremely overpriced. I saw a pretty basic black T-shirt featuring a famous Japanese artist's work going for $60. I get that it's specialty import stuff, but it's definitely an investment! Tip: It's a fantastic place to visit, but if you want to actually browse the Studio Ghibli or anime sections without fighting a crowd, try to come during the week! read more

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This Kinokuniya location is a block away from the Japanese Village in Little Tokyo. I recently went while Anime Expo is currently running so the place was filled with anime and manga lovers alike. Although the store was busy, the books, merchandise and trinkets are all spaced out for people to browse and enjoy themselves. Staff is very friendly and the books I bought were slightly higher priced since they were shipped directly from overseas. read more

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Kinokuniya's new Little Tokyo location is such a fun place to browse. My family and I ended up spending far more time here than we expected because every section had something worth looking at and my son loooooved browsing every shelf (way more than his earlier day in the expo). The manga selection is fantastic. Of course there are always going to be a few series or volumes missing, but that's just the reality of limited shelf space. Even so, they still carry far more manga than just about any bookstore I've been to, so it's hard to complain. The stationery section is absolutely adorable. If you love Japanese pens, notebooks, stickers, washi tape, or cute desk accessories, you'll probably leave with more than you planned. I also really appreciated their selection of Japanese books translated into English. It wasn't just manga. There were novels, art books, language books, and other titles that are difficult to find elsewhere. I wish I had more space in my luggage! This store is a real gem in Little Tokyo and an easy stop whether you're a longtime anime and manga fan or just curious about Japanese books and stationery. Sorry for no pictures. My arms were full of too much manga. read more

It was great to check out the new location! This Kinokuniya is MUCH larger than the old one, which is great because its proximity to Little Tokyo garners LOTS of traffic. It was super busy when I stopped by on Saturday, but the staff were great :) read more

The new location of Kinokuniya is huge! They have a good selection of books and gifts. They have a big section of anime. They have a section of Japanese magazines. They have a whole section for stationary. They have a section of gifts. When I went, they were still finalizing all their inventory. And it looked like they were going to have more items. It's nice to have Kinokuniya open again since it's a good options to find gifts. read more

obsessed with the new location! it's so much more expansive and way easier to move around now. i love how clearly everything is organized, it's easy to tell which shelves are dedicated to what, and there's so much more breathing room even when it's busy. my only wish is that they'd crank up the AC a bit, but aside from that, this space is a huge improvement. i also loved that they had little features for wotakoi and blue lock with exclusive art and items for celebration, which was very on-brand for kinokuniya. i even ended up getting a free sanrio pencil case of my choice because of my purchase amount (which, to be fair, isn't hard given the prices of their stuff...), which was such a cute bonus. employees are all very nice as well! overall, such a nice upgrade and definitely makes browsing way more enjoyable. read more

4.5/5 I rounded up because the new location is SO nice and feels massive, but I do miss the packed aisles from the other location in Arcadia. I does feel a bit too spaced out and I wish the shelves were a bit higher. I can understand the shelves being low as a way to deter theft, but maybe towards the center of the store they could be higher. I came a few days after the grand opening and it was packed. Plenty of selection, but the prices of books once again were a bit too much compared to other places. Love the store, worth visiting if you're in the little tokyo area. read more

Such a precious bookstore! I went with the intention of buying some new stationary, and they had a variety of options! Staff here were extremely friendly and very knowledgeable... You can tell that enjoyed working there with each other other. The two pens I got I have been looking for a while and I'll make a total six dollars with tax, we had a great time here and now I know where I can come when I need you when I'm doing an extra fancy! read more

The selection is nice and I genuinely enjoyed looking around. The price was also reasonable. However, the service was so slow, no wonder there was such a long line. The cashier we had was quite rude. We asked for two blind boxes behind him and he only gave us one. When we asked "ohh I asked for two please," the cashier rolled his eyes at us before going back to get our second box (he probably cursed it too because my friend didn't get who she wanted). The other cashier next to him seemed a lot friendlier and faster though. read more

Cool location to visit. Lots of genres to choose from. I was able to get assistance when asking about a manga or character I was looking for. The prices are on the expensive side however this store carries specialty not sold in regular mass marketed stores. read more

FYI Even though the other bigger Kinokuniya is open now they are keeping this storethis is nice becuz there's a plaza with others stores so you can do some shopping, eat, and walk into the metro station from here! There's also a movie theater at the very top! If you drive ,the parking is there and it's $1 validated read more

I have been coming to this bookstore for DECADES! I used to come here with my best friend in junior high and high school to buy cute stationary, pens and Japanese fashion magazines. Then in college, I would get stickers, tote bags, graphic novels and art /design books. Now, I am bringing my niece here and we are buying children's books, language books and toys. This place is nothing short than amazing. I can easily get lost in time here, just looking at different books, gifts and stationary. Staff has always been friendly and helpful. I believe this location opened in 1977 and hope that it continues on! I don't buy books as I tend to get books at the library but when I do buy for my personal library, this is one of the many bookstores in LA that I will purchase from . read more

Kinokuniya - Bookstores Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Kinokuniya is my favorite bookstore in the world, and I always make a stop whenever I'm traveling. Visiting this location while in LA from NYC, I noticed it's a bit smaller and more conservative in layout, with a more limited selection compared to the NYC store. Still, they manage to pack in quite a bit--especially when it comes to fountain pen inks and stationery. The prices are consistent with other locations, and I appreciated being able to use my membership discount. The store sees a good amount of foot traffic. The staff here weren't quite as attentive as at other branches--maybe just busy--but I was still able to grab my favorite Sailor ink and a few nice supplies. All in all, a solid stop for stationery lovers. I'll definitely come back if I'm looking for something new. read more

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The best casual/diverse Japanese bookstore & gift shop in town. Good selection of popular books, manga, and now I see them having different themed sections such as Totoro, Star Wars. There are also many fun and unique items for personal use or gifts. read more

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One of my favorite stops whenever we go to Little Tokyo. This is one of the best bookstores. I have so much fun walking in and exploring as they seem to have everything here - a wide selection of books and gifts, both mainstream and unique. They also have a great selection of pens here, and this is where I like to go whenever I need new ones. Overall? Super cute and super fun. You'll always find something worth buying here. And then you can roam around Little Tokyo. Definitely recommend. read more

Place is moving. Excited about the new place supposedly opening mid August. Hopefully Parking situation will be better because this place is difficult. read more

Kinokuniya - Bookstores Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I tried calling the store because I had a question about something and whichever employee that is working there by the phone hung up on me two times in a row before I could even get a word out. And I think that's just very rude. ‍ read more

I am a huge Kinokuniya fan, ever since I moved from Costa Mesa to Pasadena and started frequenting their Santa Anita Mall location (back in Costa Mesa, BookOff on Baker was the place to go, for sure). I have been to this Little Tokyo location about two or three times already, and although it is a bit more of an inconvenience to get to if you live in the SGV like me, I think it is worth the trip, since it is about twice as large with maybe 3 times as many things as their Santa Anita mall. Their comic book and manga selection is huge, both in English and in 日本語, they have stationery items, art books, video game guidebooks, toys, plush toys, etc. They even have a dedicated children's books section in Japanese and even a fantastic (but neglected and not as well-stocked as I'd like) Japanese language section in the back of the store (I am going to take the N4 this upcoming December, so I got a few prepbooks here). Everyone is courteous and friendly, the patrons themselves are great too. And I happened to have gone on Nissei week, which made it so that there was people in cosplay and whatnot. Interesting experience and interesting location. Will for sure be back if I am in the area again (had to park like 3 blocks away, on Omar and 3rd Street and walk over) and I am willing to put up with how much of a nightmare parking in the area is. 10/10 for the service, product selection and overall layout of the store! read more

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It's fun to walk through, but like other reviewers have stated, the inflated prices make it pretty unwise to actually buy anything. Doubly so if you're looking for Japanese language texts, since you can just buy it more cheaply from any number of places online--while the selection here is painfully small. I get it, this Kinokuniya is in a tourist location, but like 90% of the space is taken up by manga and anime merch. read more

Kinokuniya - Bookstores Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kinokuniya is stacked to the brim with anything Japanese book or anime/manga related you could think of. Tons of books, manga, magazines, and merch. Their selection of exclusive merch is really cool too. I'm glad I can rely on Kinokuniya for official smiskis and other collectibles without worrying about fakes. I'm not sure if it was just cuz I visited on a weekend, but it's extremely crowded inside with customers. It's to the point where it's difficult to even maneuver inside the store, and I'm discouraged to buy anything since the line to check out is so long. read more

This is a little bookstore tucked away on the top of a shopping center. They have all the types of books you need, plus more! The aisles are a little crowded but well organized. read more

This little bookstore on the second floor of the Weller Court Plaza, located just above the Tokyo Central market is a must browse for many many reasons whenever you're visiting this particular courtyard. Their selection of books ranging from everything anime, manga, cookbooks, culture, and literature, fiction and non-fiction of every Japanese author is unparalleled in the city. On top of that, they have a remarkable stationary pen and pencil inventory along with all the supplemental products required to support these writing tools. Staff members here are also very knowledgeable about everything they sell. We'll find samples of the best writing instruments available to test and supplies ranging from every form of pencil lead to inks for every imaginable writing style. And gift boxes and surprise bags shirt to delight any gift recipient. Prices are very reasonable and the exceptional service here more than makes up for any discounts you might find online. They have a generous rewards program and can validate the parking in the structure below. read more

Kinokuniya - Kurotoga Advance mechanical pencil - Bookstores Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Rude cashiers talking bad about me in Japanese. Said my makeup was scary, I understood it all. One had blue hair and another was old. It definitely ruined my expirience, very rude. Good selection of books it's a shame the workers there feel like they can belittle people for no reason. Sad. read more

If you are looking for a huge selection of magazines as well as little gifts for family or friends this bookstore has it all. Not to mention they have a lot of movie books and guides. There's also a huge section of cute anime toys and plushes. It doesn't look big on the outside but when you walk in, the store is pretty deep. Conveniently located in a small outdoor mall, there are two big grocery stores filled with Japanese snacks and goods so if you're hungry it's right here! Will definitely come back again ! read more

Great selection and very helpful staff. They knew where to find all the books my daughter was looking for and they let my son take a quick nap in the corner. Very hospitable and clean. 9/10 would recommend. 5 stars. read more

Kinokuniya - Front - Bookstores Near Me - Los Angeles, California

wow! what a store even for someone who has no particular interest in manga, etc.! you could never be at a loss shopping for a gift here, as the product ranges from manga (of course) books & related merch (of which there is an infinite variety.) as well as anime-related dolls (sorry: action figures) &plushies, in addition to a respectable art supply dept, for budding manga creators, as well as, gift miscellany like these awesome vintage botanical print-based puzzles from a san francisco publisher. these puzzles would be a go-to present for the person who has everything... they also stock kikkerland knick-knacks which are always suitably quirky. plus high-end fountain pens (also for thet manga creator, i assume) read more

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Around 43 years ago, when I visited this store for the first time while studying Kendo for several weeks in LA, I began building my collection of manga series and Kendo journals. When it came time for me to go back home to Seattle, Kinokuniya gave me a stack of yellow postcards on which I could request any books I wanted. For years they not only quickly sent me anything I requested -- they simply enclosed the invoice and TRUSTED ME to send the money. That's how beautifully Kinokuniya treated me! Who couldn't love this store?! These days I can just go downtown to the excellent Kinokuniya branch in Seattle, but I could never forget the splendid LA mother church where I began. I truly adore this store. read more

Doesn't just have English manga, has Japanese and Chinese books. Absolute gem, I love this place so much read more

Kinokuniya - Books - Bookstores Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is the spot for manga and fun stuff in little Tokyo. Was able to find issues my daughter was looking for that no other place had. And honestly the air conditioning was so nice on a hot day. read more

Good bookstore. Good prices and huge selection. Comics manga and collectible sold here.

This bookstore has been around for a long long time and I am glad to still see it alive and so full of people today!!! We came in to browse some books and grabbed some Japanese magazines. The aisles are very small so there won't be space for any strollers. We left our baby stroller outside while we shopped inside. It's generally a safe area so we shopped without worrying about the diaper bag, etc. (of course bring in your valuables). The staff here rather friendly once you talk to them. Overall a nice clean store with lots of manga, books, magazines, and stationaries that you won't find in a typical American bookstore. The value here is rather fair as well. A lot of their books are plastic wrapped. There are some that has samples but most of the time, they're all sealed. They also have stickers everywhere with instructions if you need anything or wants to see the inside of certain books, you're more than welcome to notify the staff. read more

Such a nice bookstore. I find myself always looking around at all the mini figures and all the pens they have to offer. Yes I know it's a bookstore... but it's everything else that catches my eye. I love that the staff is always friendly and welcoming. The prices are reasonable and not to mention.. parking. It's great. Would highly recommend. Of course they won't have the popular books like the major retail stores, but it doesn't hurt to call and as, or stop by anyway. read more

I've geeked out about books since the second grade- from weekly pickups and drops at the Bookmobile, perusing favorites at the school and city libraries, to shopping at the plethora of shops, including the original Borders Books. Used bookstores also appeal but as all these wonderful shops get 'Amazoned' and disappear, it's refreshing to find stores like this in Little Tokyo where the printed word still has an honored place. Fun fact, there's an amazing market below the bookstore... but this is about the love of books and stationary and pens and fun toys and things. If it wasn't Covid-19 precautions I'd have camped out for hours. What's guaranteed, however, is that I will make a point of returning again and again. To compensate for loss for words I'll let my photos be a silent essay. Needless to say, their selection of anime is a highlight, and all sections are nicely curated and displayed. I was especially happy to see young kids enjoying their time in the store and they definitely keep a brisk pace with customers despite current limitations. read more

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i absolutely LOVE Kinokuniya. This location is much smaller than the Seattle location and does not have the same amount of variety, but it's such a great store nonetheless. The fountain pens and ink alone are worth a trip. They've got a pretty nice selection - Pilot, Lamy, etc. And not just the cheap ones too - they carry the Pilot Custom line (one of my favorites). Not as good of a price as I can get at other shops, but it's great that they carry them. They've got good inks too - plenty of Iroshizuku for decent prices. If you like journaling, there are a couple of sections for that too. Lots of different sizes and brands, and they carry paper in addition to embellishments. Lots of Traveler's brand when I visited. In addition to the wide variety of pens and pencils, they have stationary as well. Very cute stuff. Much of the rest of the store is dedicated to books of different genres as well. Parking for us was metered on the street. This location is in a plaza with a bunch of other great stores as well. But definitely worth a visit if you're interested in what they have and are in the area! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! So many books and manga! If you're an avid reader or love anime or love manga, this place is definitely worth checking out! Exterior Patio is aesthetic and inside the store is very spacious! There's so many stationary, puzzles, themed collectibles for example they have a Studio Ghibli and Demon Slayer collection and have books on arts and crafts or learning new languages! The employees are also very friendly and they accept cash and card! I got a couple Demon Slayer folders for $8.95 per and they are such high quality and have multiple flaps! I love the designs as well!! I also got Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner because it was on my reading list!! There's parking below that's $2 per 15 mins and max charged per day is $10! read more

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