After more than two decades, beloved Japanese bookstore giant Books Kinokuniya is officially expanding in Australia, and fans are already looking ahead to what comes next.
Kinokuniya has opened a brand-new store in Westfield Chatswood, marking its first new Australian location in 24 years. The opening follows the brand’s original arrival in 1996 at Neutral Bay, and its now-iconic flagship store, which moved to The Galeries in 2002.
That flagship location has since become a cultural staple, housing more than 300,000 titles across Japanese, Chinese, and English, making it one of the most expansive and diverse bookstores in the country.
Founded in 1927 by Moichi Tanabe, Kinokuniya now operates over 140 stores globally, cementing its reputation as a destination for international literature, art books, manga, and niche publications.
For many Australian fans, especially within cosplay, anime, and creative circles, Kinokuniya is more than just a bookstore.
Trips to Sydney for SMASH! or Oz Comic-Con Sydney almost always include a stop at the store. It’s where rare finds, imported magazines, and creative inspiration collide, often in ways that feel impossible to replicate online.
Now, the conversation is shifting south.
Fans in Melbourne have begun spotting signage and job listings pointing toward a potential location at Melbourne Central. While unconfirmed, the signs are hard to ignore, and the excitement is building quickly.
If true, it would mark Kinokuniya’s first Australian expansion outside of Sydney.
Kinokuniya’s growth signals something deeper than expansion. It reflects a demand for physical spaces that prioritise discovery, curation, and community, things that digital storefronts struggle to replicate.
For creative communities especially, stores like Kinokuniya aren’t just places to shop. There are places to find something you didn’t know you were looking for.
And if Melbourne is next, it won’t just be convenient.
It’ll be transformative.
