A Useful Book and a Good Bookshop

I found a pretty handy book, called Japan for Kids. Actually it’s exactly the kind of book I needed and wish I found it sooner. Although the print edition I found is a bit old (1992) a lot of information is still quite relevant. Anyhow, since since the book is used and was also on sale it was quite a bargain at 250 yen. It’s a great guide and has a lot of information on kid-friendly places to go in Japan, but mainly focusing on Tokyo. There is also information on international schools, the Japanese school system, holidays, daycares, and baby-sitting services. I came across this book while browsing at a bookshop in Takadanobaba called The Blue Parrot. It’s a quaint shop that sells used books in English, and used DVDs and CDs as well. While looking through rows of bookshelves, I felt like I was at a small neighborhood bookshop back home, which seems to be becoming extinct as large bookstore chains like Barnes and Noble and Borders take over. The prices are so reasonable and there are even bargain bins with 100 yen books at the entrance. Apart from fiction, non-fiction, novels, etc. they also have children’s books, parenting books and books on life in Japan. If you are coming with a stroller, there is an elevator to the shop, which is on he third floor (although it’s quite narrow inside and a stroller wouldn’t really fit). It’s a place where I could easily spend hours rummaging through shelves and bins, if no one is pulling my arm trying to lead me to the nearest slide.

To get to Blue Parrot take the JR Yamanote line to Takadanobaba station. It’s a 5 minute walk from the station.