Job Discussion Forums

[seklarwia]

[Hoser]

Libraries will usually have a small collection-usually a couple of gems but nothing great. I actually donated a huge bag full of books to my local library and was a little shocked to find that the books wouldn't even go to that library-they get shipped off somewhere else. What I would like to know is which damn library gets all these books because I would like to join!

If you're in the bigger centres then Bookoff is sometimes an option. Again they might not have a lot but you could probably find a few gems. I picked up the first couple of books about GWB and the wars in Aghanistan and Iraq by Bob Woodward for only 250 yen each! Quite a fascinating read.

As Glenski says, Amazon.co.jp is usually the cheapest place to get new books. They may or may not be twice the price of what the books cost in the US but if you're from any other part of the world that doesn't get ridiculous discounts everywhere then you'll find that their prices are comparable or maybe even cheaper than your bookstores back home.

[Hoser]

Wow I just had a look at the bookdepository.com and it seem pretty sweet. They had a scifi book that was 75cents cheaper than Amazon (6.75). Would they really ship that to Japan for free> If so that's amazing. If I can get more deals like that I'll by all my books from them. Is there no catch?

[Apsara]

Ah yes, I forgot about Book-Off. The larger ones often have a couple of shelves of English books, most of them around 100-500 yen. Sometimes I come away empty-handed, but often I pick up a couple of entertaining reads there.

[Cool Teacher]

This is funny I ordered a book on the JFK assassination from Amazon but it came from the Book Depository honestly! Ha ha! But noe I think I should have ordered it directly from there because I think I paid for packing through Amazon And it was a big book I haven't read it yet.

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780393045253/Reclaiming-History

[LaniB]

Book depository = No catch I order books all the time and I get free shipping UK -> Australia and they usually arrive within 5 days (I've had one get here in 3 before... no idea how they did that!). Japan is on the list of countries with free shipping so I will using them when I move there later this year.

[Hoser]

I've just ordered my first book from them. I really can't believe it. Not only are they cheaper than ordering on Amazon.co.jp but they are ALSO cheaper than ordering from good old Amazon.com! And free shipping even for just one book. No 1500 yen lower limit!

[saloc]

There are quite a few Japan based people on here (just go into location and search by country), but you can also get books from people anywhere. As long as you are willing to give a few of your old books to others it is great.

http://bookmooch.com/

[TokyoLiz]

Maruzen bookstores, which stock foreign language books, are all over Japan - http://www.maruzen.co.jp/corp/shop/

Tower Records, Book 1st and a few other places in Shibuya have English books.

Kinokuniya has two big locations in Shinjuku stocked with foreign language books, mostly English. The Times Square building Kinokuniya has the bigger selection, I believe.

[Hoser]

I signed up for the bookmooch as well I've found that my exuberance over finding the bookdepository was a little premature. The first books I looked for were cheaper than Amazon but in later searches I found that the bookdepository was significantly more expensive that Amazon.com and even a little more expensive that just ordering from Amazon.co.jp
Oh well! It certainly pays to shop around whenever you want to buy a book that's for sure so the more options there are the better.

[dekkard]

Hi,

When people ordered books from the Book Depository for delivery to Japan, did you have to pay any customs charges?

Thanks.

[Cole]

For what it's worth, I, too, used to be "old school" when it came to reading paper books. Then, my loving in-laws bought me an iPad (on my wife�s recommendation), for an early birthday present because they know how much I love reading. Of course, I was thrilled to get it for the many other applications the device has, yet skeptical about using it to buy new titles or download ePub books to read. In spite of my reservations and the fact I now had a device, I tried it and found it to be so much more enjoyable and convenient than reading paper. I will never go back to reading paper unless I am on a backpacking trip in the wilderness. Even if an iPad is out of financial reach, the cost of a Kindle is much less and in my opinion, very affordable. If you think you will will be in Japan for an extended period of time, getting one of these devices will pay for itself if you consider the cost of buying book after book. Sometimes, Amazon will even offer newer books for free download if you don�t like the idea of reading free classic ePubs.

All I can say is this: Try it. You�ll like it.

[TheAmericanNomad]

I don't really remember where I got it, because it was years ago, but during a vacation to Japan I found English books. I bought a great one that was pretty much Confessions of a Yakuza, (not the real name but you get the idea, if anyone knows what book I am talking about please send me a PM, I'd like very much to read it again) so I don't think you will have any trouble.

I was in Kyoto, if you are wondering.

[Bread]

[mc]

Kindle, Sony Reader (for free DRM ePub books from my U.S. library back home) and iPad for me. Never going back to paper again!

For those not willing to pay full price for Kindle books, they do offer free titles. Some of these are just crap from self-published authors trying to get their names out there, but occasionally something decent will pop up on the list. Just have to monitor it (I have the updates sent to a feedreader) to see if any interesting titles come up.

Oh, and the Kindle app is awesome! It syncs books between all devices so I can pick up reading on my iPhone right where I left off on my iPad, Kindle, or PC. Sweet!