John Yamamoto-Wilson wrote:
> I posted this to a rather tedious thread, where a lot of people very likely
> missed it, and thought it might be worth reposting it as a new thread.
> 
> First, some info people might find useful:
> 
> Evelyn Leeper keeps a good record of used bookstores (Japanese and foreign)
> in Tokyo (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4824/jp-hama.htm), as well as in
> other parts of Japan
> (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4824/jp-misc.htm#index).
> 
> Second, a request:
> 
> Anyone with any stories to tell about used bookstores in Japan? I'd be
> interested to hear of stores (Japanese and foreign and mixed) that people
> recommend, or places they'd steer clear of, whether as book-collectors and
> bibliophiles or just in search of a good read.
> 
For English books I like Wantage books in Kobe. But that might be
because they were right across the street from my apartment and I worked
there.

In Himeji there are a couple of places that I've briefly visited that 
aren't on the list from the link above. I don't know the names, but one 
is on the main drag near the castle, the other in the shotengai (also 
near the castle). I think the latter might have gone out of business, 
though. Both are used book stores, and I don't recall anything in 
English in either one. There's also a place on the South side of the 
station, but it's not really within walking distance. It's a chain 
store, but for the life of me I can't remember the name; I'll ask the 
BYJW if she knows it.

Possibly the best 'find' I've made in book collecting was when I was
charged with disposing of old props in my college's theatre department 
(US). Among the 'props' was a collection of Washington Irving 
books/stories dating from the early/mid 19th century. My guess is that's 
probably a good source in just about any country that has theatre, since 
libraries often give or donate old books to be used as props. I've known 
some folks who got some good antiques that way as well.

John W.