Going further to Ikebukuro through the Saikyo line or the Nakasendo Road, R17, or the Kawagoe Kaido Road, R254. Ikebukuro is convenient place as there are large booksellers in line.
At first, let's go to the Ikebukuro Branch of Junkudo Shoten which was made a few years ago. Junkudo got famous because it forced into Ikebukuro where are many booksellers and it introduced sit-down reading in a bookseller into Tokyo on a large scale. I think it keeps the best selection in Ikebukuro. The particular and a little crazy bookshelves in Junkudo keep interesting us. There are books that may be in public libraries and may not be in usual booksellers. I sometimes arrange to meet in Junkudo, because it has a cafe. After the recent complete refurbishment, they talk big on their website that "The floor area is the largest in the world! Everyday stock is one and a half million books!". (2001.3.14)
There is "Libro" the book building of the Ikebukuro Branch of the Seibu Department Stores across the street. It moved around in the department store, it settles in the building where was the Seibu Museum of Art. There used to be a particular arrangement called "the bookshelf of Seibu"....
There is Tobu Department Store on the right after passing under a railroad over the entrance of the book building of Seibu. The Ikebukuro Branch of Asahiya Shoten is in Tobu. It looks a bookseller in a department store or an ordinary large scale bookseller. It kept once many books written by Honda Shin'ichi, however, the person in charge of the bookshelf may be changed, it now keep few.
Going toward Marui Store from Tobu Department Store, there is the main store of Horindo Shoten. It sells sometimes publications in front on the topic of the day, or on subculture. It seems to close 30 minutes later than department stores in Ikebukuro. The publications on animation or comics are sold in another store.
Going further to Kanamecho station of the Eidan subway Yurakucho line through the street which comes down from Ikebukuro station, there is the Kanamecho Branch of Musashi Shoten. It is convenient for night birds that it is open till very late at night --- it may be open till 2 or 3 a.m. or later. I think it hopes for Rikkyo College students.