Beautiful art books with history

Kyotoites are known to cherish traditions and history. This includes antique tools, art, and books.

"Books & Things" is just the right place for antique book lovers.

This book store is located along Yamato Oji Street near Kamo River and is lined by many antique stores. Look out for their black sign board, and you will find the store entrance at the end of the small alleyway.

Ring the doorbell to enter, and the owner will welcome you. The store boasts a selection of about 700 treasures, beautifully aligned with books of architecture, art, design, and photography from 20th century.

Despite books' age, lovingly cared-for pieces are all well maintained by the owner.

Select your favorite book by asking the owner for recommendations on their relaxing tatami flooring.

The aesthetically arranged and curated books are pure eye candy. As the owner states, "although photos are necessary to photobooks, its design is as vital".

A part of their shelves comprises of photobooks from different generations, including original prints from world-renowned photographers.

The artistic and rare prints include photos from 1940 taken by an American photography historian, Beaumont Newhall, and photos of John Lennon and Yoko Ono from 1970 taken by an Austrian photographer, Michael Horowitz.

All pieces displayed here are a gem, which may bring you fantastic encounters.