The annual "Shimogamo Summer Used Book Festival" is currently underway at Tadasu-no-Mori (the Forest of Tadasu) within Shimogamo Shrine in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto. Approximately 300,000 items—ranging from books to vinyl records and figurines—are on display, and enthusiasts are browsing for their favorite finds despite occasional rain showers. The event runs until August 16.
Organized by the Kyoto Used Book Research Association, this marks the 39th edition of the festival. Twenty-two shops from Kyoto and the Kansai region have set up stalls under tents since August 11.
On August 13, with periods of light rain, vendors covered the books spread out on their tables with transparent sheets. Enthusiasts and international visitors alike could be seen picking up manga, picture books, and novels from beneath the sheets or inside the tents.
Known for having one of the most spacious venues among Kyoto's used book markets, the event boasts a rich selection of items beyond just books, including Ultraman figurines and movie stills.
Limited-edition tote bags and *tenugui* (traditional Japanese hand towels) commemorating the Kyoto Used Book Research Association's upcoming 50th anniversary next year are also on sale. Tetsuya Masuda (63 years old) of the association invites the public to "enjoy unexpected encounters with books while strolling through the grounds of this World Heritage site."
Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the event closing at 4:00 p.m. on the final day.
