Some people have written off bookshops as a thing of a past, and with all the ones that have closed down you can start to imagine why. One bookshop that always draws a crowd is one that will hopefully survive the rise of online shopping.
Kinokuniya Books is a Japanese bookstore chain, and their Sydney store is a book lover's heaven. Head to the second level of
the Galleries building and you'll enter this book paradise.
Kinokuniya's specialties are comic books, manga and graphic novels. Whether you're a fan of classic DC and Marvel, like indie graphic novels or hunt down rare Japanese manga, Kinokuniya can be one of the best places to track them down. They have comic encyclopaedias, as well as merchandise like figurines. While many bookstores may devote just a small section to these reads, Kinokuniya puts them centre stage.
Don't be scared off if you're not a fan of comic books and the like, Kinokuniya have a bit of everything. Their collections are all easy to find, you might be searching for interior design coffee table books, or classic literature, they are all arranged in specific sections. Walking around you'll find suggestions for great reads, and new releases that are just calling to be picked up and read.
It isn't all about buying books when you're there. If you're feeling arty you can browse through their
Wedge Gallery, with exhibitions changing all the time. Or, if you're a bit peckish, you can head to the Kinokuniya cafe, sit and enjoy a newly purchased book with a drink and a bite to eat, or meet up with some friends.
Kinokuniya has a great range of books, and while they aren't always as cheap as online, you'll often find them cheaper than their RRP. Even if you shop online, chances are you sometimes get the urge to browse through a real bookshop, make Kinokuniya the place to go, who knows what you'll come home with.
Kinokuniya is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am-7pm, Thursday from 10am-9pm, and Sunday from 10am-6pm.
