Kanda Jimbocho is the largest secondhand bookstores district in the world. There are over 180 stores, including some stores non-secondhand shops. The area is also dotted with cafes where you can sit and read a book. If you feel like a heartier meal, there are plenty of famous curry shops nearby.
The stores are built facing north to protect the books from sunlight, so the shops are concentrated on the south side of the street. Everything from large general bookstores to small-scale specialized shops can be found here, but the most common are the secondhand bookstores. Specialty stores sell everything from Edo-era maps and ukiyo-e lithographs to modern manga. In this neighborhood, you can find the whole history of Japanese books!
A great number of universities are located around Kanda. All the students in the area created the demand for books. This led to the development of the world's largest bookstore district, built around Jimbocho crossing. "Furuhon Matsuri" - a secondhand book fair - is held annually in late October through early November.