When you say town of books, Jimbocho comes to mind—but Kagurazaka (Shinjuku Ward) is also a "town of books," I hear. Hence the PR event "Les rats de bibliotheque" running through the 24th. About sixty shops and facilities offer workshops and book-themed original goods. Two or three stops from Takebashi on the Tozai Line to Iidabashi or Kagurazaka. It ends this weekend, so a quick introduction.
"Les rats de bibliotheque" means "library rats" in French—the equivalent of "bookworm" in Japanese. Kagurazaka is also famous for cats, so the subtitle is "Even cats, when they walk, bump into books."
Kagurazaka is deeply tied to literary giants—Natsume Soseki and Ozaki Koyo lived here, and many novels are set here. Publishers, printers, and editorial production companies gather too. But perhaps because it is too famous as a "flower district," the "town of books" image is not widely known—hence this appeal.
To find participating shops, look for the common handout shaped like an open book matchingphoto top (the event poster). The right half lists each shop's "connection to books"—"a café where you can read slowly," and so on. That is the marker.
Main programs include: ▽Leather book covers—including one for Natsuhiko Kyogoku paperbacks (Ayuto Leather Goods, Tsukudo Hachimancho) ▽Binding and original art by book designer Fuzi Okamura (exhibition through March 3, Korin-tei Gallery, Yarai-cho) ▽"Cats and Reading" paperback covers (Cocotte Café, Tsukudo-cho) ▽Used-book fair themed on Kagurazaka (Usuzawa, Yokoteracho) ▽Have a bartender mix cocktails a novel's hero might like (Bar Rokkakudo, Kagurazaka 3) ▽Serve recreated dishes from books by Devouring Shiba Ryotaro (Shunsai Ryori Tsune, Shirogane-cho) ▽Exhibition What Is Proofreading? (free proofreading of school essays and blog posts through the 22nd, Okuraido, Yarai-cho) ▽Antique books, standing reading welcome (Roberts, Tsukudo-cho), and masked used-book gifts wrapping the owner's collection in original paper covers (Kiitos Sabo, Kandan-cho)—each with creative flair.
On the 23rd, 4–6 p.m., the "Buku-Buku Exchange"—swap books with business cards tucked inside—at Japan Publishing Club Hall (Fukuro-cho 6; hosted by e-hon; reservation required = http://www1.e-hon.ne.jp/content/event_info.html#event03).
Dates and times vary by program—please check. For the whole event, contact Usuzawa tableware (03-5228-6758). Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lesratsde?ref=stream.