The greater LA area used to be a haven for ethnic enclaves. With the decline of first generation…read moreimmigrants these vibrant cultures have been diminishing or at least shifting geographically. This gem is still located in the heart of the SGV. Thanks to the kind owners it remains an outlet for a different form of entertainment. Both English and Chinese manga are available, and custom orders can be made. There are quite a few series that are hidden gems, and the owners are very helpful with any questions. It's clean, organized, reasonably priced and even has a large meeting room for events for manga loving fans.

I cant believe Ive passed by this place so many times without noticing it. Like most stores in my…read morearea, It is truly a hidden gem that serves the locals. Me and my gf stopped by after we noticed it while driving and we were appalled by the aesthetics of the store. You walk in and its like you just entered the secret store in an rpg. The store offers rental services as well as purchasing books. Most of the manga/comics are in Chinese, however, they are currently expanding their english catalogs. There is a sitting area with comfy chairs where you can read their manga like a library. The owner was very nice and welcoming. We chatted about things and the store has been in his ownership for about 6 months. I look forward to not having to drive all the way to LA just to buy manga.

It's an overdue review, but it's a landmark, super unique spot, and a must if you love books, or if…read moreyou want to take really nice photos that are book themed in some way or form (think magical library themed, etc.). The times that I've gone, we've walked from Little Tokyo, but know that you might have to walk through some sketch areas and one time that we visited someone was having an episode outside, but truly that's just another day in LA if anything. Staff here is SUPER knowledgeable. I mention an obscure, STEM related subject, the gentleman working led us to the exact general area and part of the shelf and then pulled several books that were related to the topic that I was inquiring about. Insane. Also the books are super affordable too. In a day and age when literacy rates are abysmal and physical media is perishing, this is awesome. There's also the option to sell and donate to the Last Bookstore, I'd look at their website for details and it's not only just books here, there's CD's, vinyls, and DVD's, and again, physical media heaven. It's just so mesmerizing to see the architecture and decor here, especially how they use books as artwork and how they're arranged into shapes and into photo ops as well. Definitely lots to explore and of course read and dig into.

Unacceptable, Threatening Treatment by Security and Management 9/1/2026 7:06pm…read more I had a deeply disturbing experience at The Last Bookstore due to the aggressive behavior of their security guard and the complete failure of management to step in. Upon entering the store, I was confronted about my empty backpack--which contained $2,000 in cash and essential, prescribed medications that I could not leave unattended in an unsecured area. As a small, 100-pound defenseless woman, the security guard had absolutely no reason to act as hostile, menacing, and aggressive toward me as he did. When I tried to address the bag policy and explain that my bag was completely empty and small enough to fit within reasonable limits, he immediately began verbally escalating, cursed at me, and aggressively told me to "get the f*** out of the store." Keep in mind the store is always out of shopping bags and I make larger purchases (couple hundred dollars, 1-2 times a week) and would like a way to walk my new vinyls home while taking my dog for a walk.. I have came in over a dozen times the past months wearing the same exact same bag have not changed it out in months and never had a issue with any security guard ever here, but today was singled out and treated unacceptable like I'm some homeless bum / theif the cashiers there know I'm a regular, but today was something completely different. When I expressed frustration inside the store, instead of de-escalating or handling the situation professionally, he just continually escalated it further. He stated in his own words that he "didn't give a f***" how much money I spent, told me to go spend my money at Barnes & Noble instead, and declared that I was not welcome and was laughing at me mocking me in front of other shoppers saying "haha you're not allowed In haha". Humiliating and also was not organizing any bags that other patrons were giving him was just throwing them in a pile in the corner. That is why I did not feel comfortable, giving him my belongings.. When I asked for his name, he told me it was "asshole." While this was happening, I spoke directly to the manager. Rather than correcting the guard's behavior, the manager completely failed to intervene--standing by silently and letting the guard continue to cuss me out, act aggressive, and degrade me in front of other shoppers. By doing nothing, the manager actively enforced and validated the abuse. Even after I exited the building, the guard followed me outside onto the street and continued to verbally threaten and harass me. To be treated with such hostility and intimidation over necessary personal belongings--and to have management permit unsafe, abusive employee behavior--is completely unacceptable. Management seriously needs to evaluate who they employ and how they handle customer interactions. I have spent thousands in this establishment and you have lost my buisnesss as a loyal customer. will not be returning.

I was in the mood to check out this used bookstore and was able to get 3 paperbacks and 1 hardcover…read morebook for $9! That price was a steal! It's a small and compact space but all the books are organized by categories and there are some pretty good titles to get. Staff was friendly and I saw them also organizing donations.

Incredible Service! Love the selection of books! Can't wait to come back! I think there's a lot of…read moreavailable educational books in here and even books you wouldn't be able to find elsewhere where.

What an adorable book and stationary store. Our first time here and we loved it. It is not large,…read moreit is somewhat small, but it is so cute and they have a nice selection for a smaller store. They also sell other things and if you need to buy a gift, you will find one here. They also have a website that is great. Their prices are fair and the service is ever so nice. I really liked this place and will stop by again when in town.

When I called to ask about children's books in Chinese, the lady rudely said that they don't sell…read morebooks and hung up. Very strange.

Founded in 1894 the way I hear it is Vroman's is this is the oldest bookstore in Los Angeles. It's…read moredefinitely also one of the most famous along with The Last Bookstore in DTLA. One fantastic thing about this place is the immense size and varied selection that they have. In front they have a really nice café that serves drinks and food followed by many rows of books and strewn merch all around and in the back, they even have a really nice stationary section that has many great pens and notebooks to choose from. They also have a second floor that was having an author visit as a guest speaker for a Q&A so it was extremely busy. Most of the second floor, though is for young readers. They don't have a dedicated parking lot so it will be metered street parking which is the only downside. The whole staff was very friendly and helpful. Inside is also really clean and I just loved all of the options. I ended up grabbing a few books on math and business and was really happy with what I found. I would highly recommend to any bibliophile.

I feel like this is one of the last great private book stores left. It's so large and right on…read moreColorado Blvd, perfect location to shop and eat. The books are plenty and the gifts and children's floor are spectacular. I come here often and will continue to do so

Kinokuniya is a Japanese bookstore chain founded in 1927 and this overseas location in Little Tokyo…read morewas 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.

Kinokuniya in Little Tokyo has moved to a new and bigger location! They are located across from the…read moreWeller 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!

I went in today to browse and all the employees I encountered were so friendly, thoughtful,…read moreproactive, and helpful. My friend and I were approached by three different employees during our time there. They asked if they could assist us with anything and gave some great recommendations. I was looking for a fantasy book for my teenage brother and the employee was incredibly helpful giving recommendations, finding the "teen book of the month." I didn't even know they had a teen book of the month! The organization of the store was great. The categories and book selections that were specially displayed were especially helpful. For example, in their AAPI stories section I was able to find some really interesting books that I might have not otherwise seen. A selection of their Barnes and Noble specialty book covers that feature some classic works (like Pride and Prejudice and Winnie the Pooh) were on sale for between $8-$12. For such a beautiful high quality book, I would definitely return to purchase one of those at that price. The other books though were a bit pricey. The employees there made this visit extra enjoyable. I don't go to Barnes and Noble very often, but yesterday's visit makes me want to return again soon.

I drove here since I had to get a book for my brother. He needs it for his high school project. An…read moreemployee found the last copy for me and another employee who was helping me. Truly amazing!

This store is located in Americana and has three levels. Starbucks cafe is located on the third…read morelevel and it is usually busy. Sometime it is hard to get a table. This store is very organized and they have kiosks that it is helpful to find the books. They also have staff working on the floor which answers questions and help finding items. This store has anime, music and magazine selections and prices of the books are compatible which other stores or online. They also offer a reward program which offers discounts for cafe, books and magazines. Parking in Americana is not free. I think they validate the parking. I would suggest parking in the mall which is free and it is like five minutes walk.

I DESPISE when Japanese mangaka and other guests of honor choose to go to this location of all of…read morethem. It's super fisted with the regular crowds due to it's location in the shopping center, it's a traffic nightmare, it's not remotely close to anything else (convention center, Japanese hub, etc.), and the shop itself is a bit lackluster. Like, yeah I know we are running out of actual physical bookstores, but this is mostly a trinket, toys, gift store with some books to sell on the side. Manga and graphic novel selection is a bit limited. Staff recommendations were the most casual and entry level things ever like JJK or MHA, no offense. It's neat that it's multiple stories but, again, selection was a bit meh. Also unfortunately ran into zoomers using the escalators to film TikToks on more than one location...

Walking into this place feels like stepping into another universe -- one made entirely of stories,…read morehistory, and quiet magic. The moment you walk through the door, you're surrounded by towering shelves and beautiful, chaotic stacks of books that feel lovingly curated rather than cluttered. It's the kind of space where time slows down and you forget about your phone because you're too busy discovering something unexpected. Every corner feels alive. The warm lighting, the golden walls, the endless spines of books -- it's cozy, nostalgic, and deeply comforting. You don't just shop here; you explore. And the owner? Truly an angel. Kind, welcoming, and incredibly knowledgeable. You can feel how much heart and soul they've poured into this space. They don't just sell books -- they share stories, recommendations, and genuine warmth. The customer service alone makes you want to come back again and again. If you love books, hidden gems, or places with real character, this is one of those rare magical spots that reminds you why independent shops matter. I'll be thinking about this place for a long time.

There is no other bookstore quite like Century Books, the owners Judith and Steve are some of the…read moremost wholesome people I have been fortunate to meet. Me and my partner love to visit & chat with them about books, plays, and other things while looking around and they are so accommodating, it almost feels like we are their guests in their home. More than reasonable prices and have plenty to choose from.

To start off with this store is a great place everything is organized and neat. The owners are very…read morenice and friendly they helped me out with questions I had. If u want English manga there is very limited but they can order it for you which is a W for me. Also not bad in pricing it's not overly overpriced, so I would come back and buy. Overall for me it's a 10/10 and I would come back here

Great place to go to rent/buy manga, manhua, and Chinese light novels…read more I am not Chinese nor do I read/speak Chinese, so 95% of what they had here wasn't really applicable to me, but I do appreciate that they have a LOT of books. It's really neat that they have layers and layers of sliding bookshelves. There's also some cute character merchandise for sale, a sofa area to sit and read at (looks like they also have karaoke?), and a very small English manga section that's currently 15% off. It was mostly shonen series like Vinland Saga, HxH, Chainsawman, Attack on Titan, etc. It seems like they have a membership service too. If you can read Chinese and enjoy light novels and manga, this is the place for you!