Tsutaya Books, a beloved Japanese chain, opened its doors here last Thursday. Not only is this outlet its first in Malaysia, it is also the first in all of Southeast Asia!
In Japan, the franchise is known for its beautifully designed stores offering picturesque views of endless bookshelves. Happily, the outlet at Bukit Jalil, too, does not disappoint in that regard.
Indeed, with its floor space of 31,000 sq ft comprising over 240,000 books, it’s safe to say this is one of the largest bookstores in the country. About 60% of the titles are in English, while the remainder cater for Bahasa Melayu, Chinese and Japanese readers.
On opening day, FMT was given the opportunity to see what Tsutaya had to offer… and it is a treasure trove!
Part of Tsutaya’s philosophy is that it caters to all generations, meaning everyone will find something right up their alley here.
During his opening speech, Tsutaya Books Malaysia CEO Hideyuki Uemoto said: “We didn’t want to settle on just selling great books; we are giving more than what [people] asked for… a creative space that encourages social interaction and escapism for people of all ages.”
To that end, the store has 11 sections dedicated to different genres: magazines, art, travel, literature, humanities, comics, language, lifestyle, food, children’s, and the curiously named “workstyle”.
Unlike in many other bookstores, you can find books in different languages sharing the same shelf space. This is because the titles here are categorised according to genre, so you may well find “Pride and Prejudice” in English sitting next to a Chinese copy of “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”.
Families with young ones will also be wanting to visit, as the children’s section is impressive to behold. With some 20,000 books available in multiple languages, you will certainly find something to kick off your kids’ reading habit.
Should you want to spend quality time reading to your children or playing with them, the cosy Learning Room onsite caters specifically for this.
Meanwhile, have you ever wanted to browse through a book but had nowhere to sit to do this? Well, good news – rings of benches are available for customers to take a breather, which is certainly something more bookstores should emulate!
And for those looking for more than just books, there are several small sections of the store dedicated to artisanware, some Japanese, some Malaysian.
Artists themselves are occasionally invited to run booths, with local personality Han the Craftsman having the honour of putting on a paper-art demonstration on opening day.
There is further a section dedicated to everyday products such as tumblers, stationeries, bags, and, funnily enough, Japanese kitchen knives.
It’s certainly worth a browse, especially if you’re looking to buy a gift for someone; most of the goods here are of quality and are pretty to look at.
Also, the customer service in Tsutaya is nothing short of superb, with concierges seemingly posted in every aisle ready to respond to your every query with exemplary professionalism.
Should your stomach start rumbling, make a pitstop at the bookstore’s very own café. It comfortably seats up to 90 guests and is the perfect place to unwind, especially after a long day of shopping.
Items on the menu include artisanal desserts such as Fruit Parfait and the signature Dorayaki – the same treat a certain blue Japanese robot cat famously loves.
The Kyoto matcha and coffee are also worth a try if you need a caffeine boost.
So what are you waiting for? Head on over to Tsutaya today and see what literary treasures, and more, await you!
Tsutaya Books
Lot 2.89.00, Level 2 Orange Zone,
Pavilion Bukit Jalil,
Persiaran Jalil Utama,
Bandar Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 10am-10pm daily