Japan had 9,993 bookstores as of the end of March 2026, falling below 10,000 for the first time and representing just over 40 percent of the peak in fiscal year 1998.
Data show the number of bookstores has been on a long-term decline. It has shrunk sharply from the peak in fiscal 1998.
The latest figure is based on a tally at the end of March. Industry observers point to shifting market conditions.
Online sales continue to affect the bookstore sector.
The number of independent bookstores in the United States has grown by about 70% compared to 2000, according to Bookshop.org CEO Andy Hunter. He credits the surge to a cultural embrace of analog lifestyles and bookish trends. The revival coincides with events like Independent Bookstore Day.
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