Tsutaya Books, a major bookstore chain in Japan, to open outlet in Kuala Lumpur

Tsutaya Books provides an immersive and relaxing space for shoppers, families and children who love books, design, and art to grow and explore together. Photo: Tsutaya Books

Tsutaya Books, one of Japan’s largest and most acclaimed lifestyle bookstore chains, will be opening at Pavilion Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur in the first quarter of 2022.

It will be Tsutaya Books' first store in South-East Asia. Famously named as “one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores”, Tsutaya Books at Pavilion Bukit Jalil will offer 31,000sq feet (2,880sq m) of space comprising of a bookstore, café, specialised merchandise, and activity areas.

"We look forward to launching our first South-East Asia bookstore with Pavilion Bukit Jalil and we cannot wait for Malaysians to experience the Tsutaya brand for the first time. In line with our vision to cultivate culture and lifestyle, we hope to create a space for families and children who love books, design, and art to grow, explore and thrive together at Tsutaya Books,” said Hideyuki Uemoto, head of Tsutaya Books Malaysia.

Each Tsutaya Books carries a distinct personality, offering a unique concept where no two stores are alike, such as the iconic T-Site at Daikanyama, Shibuya and Ginza Six in Tokyo. Since then, both ‘Tsutaya’ and Tsutaya Books have become an all-encompassing Japanese pop culture platform, operating in more than 1,400 branches around the world.

In line with the store's concept of “Cultivate Culture & Lifestyle", Tsutaya Books' staff will be offering visitors personalised recommendations and assistance in genre-specific areas of interest. Adding to the immersive experience, the store features a dedicated space for family-friendly activities, a playground and low bookshelves for children to nurture reading habits as well as stationery, art and crafts, and interior design sections.

For book lovers, Tsutaya Books's opening in Malaysia adds to the excitement of major Asian bookstore chains opening in Kuala Lumpur.

Last month, the Eslite Spectrum Corp, a major bookstore chain in Taiwan, announced it is scheduled to open a store in Kuala Lumpur in 2022 as part of its strategy to expand its network outside of Taiwan. The Kuala Lumpur outlet, reported to be at The Starhill in Jalan Bukit Bintang, will be Eslite's first store in the South-East Asian market.