Book Off is a well known chain of stores that buys and sells second hand goods. Not all Book Offs are created equal though. This store next to Suzukicho Station on the Keikyu Kawasaki-Daishi Line, is one of the largest in the Kanto region. It is also one of the few stores that buys and sells both surf and snow equipment.
If you are looking to unload or acquire second-hand surfboards, snowboards, skateboards, or skis, then this is the Book Off to head to. The amount of snowsports equipment swells from October when lots of people unload their old equipment so they can buy something new and shiny.
As Japan is not home to many tall-statured westerners, most of the snowboards are on the shorter side. The longest one in stock on our visit was 157cm with prices ranging from ¥4,000 to ¥70,000. This isn’t a specialist outdoor sports store either, so don’t bet on the kind of advice you would get at one of the stores in Kanda where there are half a dozen staff hovering around.
Japanese buyers are very conscious of scratches, so if you don’t mind putting up with a few cosmetic defects, you can pick up a cheap item.
Beside outdoor sports equipment, the store has everything you could possibly need—guitars, furniture, clothes, shoes, kids toys, collectibles, rare Japanese whisky, and even books!
The store is a 5 minute walk from Suzukicho Station or a 25 minute walk from Kawasaki Station.
Nearby places and attractions
- Kanayama Shrine (the penis shrine)
- Kawasaki Daishi (large temple)
- Toshiba Science Museum
- 310 m from Suzukichō Station Keikyū Daishi Line (KK22)
- 0.5 km from Minatochō Station Keikyū Daishi Line (KK21)
- 0.8 km from Kawasaki-Daishi Station Keikyū Daishi Line (KK23)
