A lot of used books were lined up in a used bookstore in Jimbocho

The area around Jimbocho is lined with many bookstores. According to one theory, there are about 150 bookstores operating in the area, making Jimbocho the largest bookstore district in the world. There are also Sanseido Bookstore, Shosen Grande, and Tokyo-Do Bookstore that sell new books, but it is the many used bookstores that make this town unique.

Most used bookstores have wagons with inexpensive used books on display. You can't tell what kind of books are being sold until you get close and stare at the yellowed books. The books are not lined up in order by title or by author. I look at the spines of books that seem to be arranged in a random order. Sometimes, I find a book that I have been meaning to read. It makes me happy. It's serendipity.

By chance, I come across an unexpected book. I enjoy this moment so much that I end up going to real bookstores. I also buy books from online bookstores, but I've rarely come across such an unexpected book by chance. Amazon probably spends a lot of money on the recommendation function, but I have never felt serendipity from books recommended by Amazon. I would like to believe that no matter how prosperous online bookstores become, unless they can provide users with a serendipitous experience, real bookstores will not disappear.

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