June 8, 2026
TOKYO – The number of bookstores across Japan dropped below 10,000, falling to 9,993 at the end of last fiscal year, according to a survey by the Japan Publishing Organization for Information Infrastructure Development (JPO).
While efforts to revitalize bookstores are expanding in both the public and private sectors, the decline of brick-and-mortar shops continues unabated amid a slumping market for printed publications.
According to the JPO, the number of bookstores in fiscal 2025 decreased by 424 from the 10,417 recorded in fiscal 2024. Since fiscal 1994, when data first became available, the number of bookstores nationwide peaked at 24,237 in fiscal 1998 before declining. Driven in part by the spread of the internet and the growth of online retailers, the figure has shrunk to just over 40% of its peak.
The government announced a bookstore revitalization plan in June last year. It has been promoting operational efficiency, such as the adoption of IC tags for books, and some bookstores have begun implementing these measures.
Last year, the estimated sales value of printed publications dropped below ¥1 trillion for the first time in 50 years.
The survey may not account for all bookstores, as some independent shops are believed to have been excluded from the data.