Yurindo

What Yurindo does

Yurindo is a 115+ year-old Japanese bookstore and stationery retailer operating approximately 44 physical stores concentrated in Kanagawa Prefecture with extensions into Tokyo, Chiba, Hyogo, and Osaka. Founded in 1909 in Isezakicho, Yokohama, and incorporated as Kabushiki Kaisha Yurindo in 1920, the company remains privately held under Representative Director Matsunobu Kentaro with no recorded external funding. Core operations span book, magazine, stationery, and lifestyle goods retail across formats including standard bookstores, transit-hub stores, shopping-center locations, and specialized compound stores (STORY STORY, BASEGATE, HIBIYA CENTRAL MARKET). Since 2019, the company has operated as the exclusive Japanese licensee of Taiwan's Eslite Spectrum, running Eslite Life Nihonbashi with a planned Osaka Namba opening in 2027.

The technology stack is conventional retail e-commerce: a web-based real-time inventory search system across participating stores, the HonyaClub ordering platform with free in-store pickup, a Yahoo Shopping storefront, and a Shopify-based official online store launched January 2026 integrated with YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for live commerce of channel-original merchandise. The company runs a YouTube channel ("Yurindo Shika Shiranai Sekai") with 300+ videos, a quarterly blog, and active social media across X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Payment infrastructure includes ten QR-code payment options including PayPay, LINE Pay, Rakuten Pay, Alipay+, and WeChat Pay.

Revenue derives from at least six streams: physical retail of books and merchandise (the largest), nine cafe and restaurant outlets including STORY CAFE and Nathan-Coffee 1884, a 70+ year B2B corporate sales division serving government agencies and institutions with office, ICT, document, and procurement solutions, publishing under Yurindo Shinsho (200+ titles) plus the Gokigen Business Publishing e-book label launched April 2025, education services across 17 culture centers including music lessons and robot programming (via Human Academy franchise), and licensed Eslite store operations. Pricing is unit-based with books ranging from 693 to 1,980 yen; B2B contracts are quote-based. Customer segments span individual consumers (primary), corporate and government clients, healthcare professionals served through three JMPA-certified Medical Book Centers, and educational institutions including library management contracts.

Name

Yurindo

Legal name

株式会社有隣堂

Website

https://yurindo.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yurindo is a 115-year-old Japanese bookstore chain operating ~44 retail locations across Kanto and Kansai, offering books, stationery, cafes, publishing, B2B corporate services, education programs, and licensed Eslite lifestyle stores for consumers, corporates, and institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bookstore Retail

NAICS

Book Retailers and News Dealers (45921), Book Retailers and News Dealers (4592), Office Supplies and Stationery Retailers (459410), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Retail-Variety Stores (5331)

akta.pro primary industry

Stationery & Writing Instruments Retail (CRALABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Manga Retail (CRALAAAF), Stationery, Writing Instruments & Paper Products Distribution (CRAOALAH)

Keywords

• Bookstore retail
• Stationery retail
• Corporate office supplies
• Cultural publishing
• Music school services

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Book and Merchandise Sales: Physical retail sales of books, magazines, stationery, and lifestyle goods across 44+ stores in Kanagawa, Tokyo, Chiba, Hyogo, and Osaka areas. Core business generating majority of revenue.
2. Cafe and Restaurant Operations: Operation of 9 food and beverage outlets including cafe-in-bookstore concepts, restaurant services, and specialty coffee shops. Includes STORY CAFE, Nathan-Coffee 1884, BACON Books & cafe, and other food service operations.
3. B2B and Corporate Sales (外商): Corporate sales division serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and libraries with office supplies, furniture, equipment, and books. Includes document solutions, ICT solutions, office planning, and procurement services.
4. Publishing and E-Publishing: Traditional publishing under '有隣新書' series with 200+ titles covering history, culture, and regional topics. Electronic publishing label 'ごきげんビジネス出版' (Gokigen Business Publishing) launched April 2025 specializing in business and professional development e-books and POD titles.
5. Education and Cultural Services: Music schools, culture centers, robot programming courses, and library management services. Operates 17 culture center locations as of 2023, including music lessons, English conversation classes, and robot programming courses.
6. Licensed Store Operations: Revenue from operating licensed Eslite lifestyle stores including Eslite Life Nihonbashi (opened 2019) and planned Osaka Namba location (2027). Operates as licensee receiving operational fees and share of revenues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Yurindo operates a chain of physical bookstores and stationery retail outlets (44+ stores across Kanagawa, Tokyo, Chiba, Hyogo, and Osaka), complemented by in-store cafes, a publishing division producing original books and e-books, music schools and culture centers, and a dedicated B2B corporate sales division (外商) serving businesses, government agencies, and institutions with office supplies, furniture, ICT solutions, and procurement services. The company also operates as the Japanese licensee for Taiwan's Eslite Spectrum cultural lifestyle brand.

Product overview

Yurindo operates as a diversified retail and cultural enterprise built around its core bookstore business. The company operates approximately 44 physical stores across Kanagawa, Tokyo, Chiba, Hyogo, and Osaka as of 2026, offering books, magazines, stationery, and sundries. Its portfolio includes multiple sub-brands and complex store formats: STORY STORY YOKOHAMA (book x goods x café), BASEGATE Yokohama Kannai (bookstore x restaurant x goods), HIBIYA CENTRAL MARKET (multi-tenant cultural space), and licensed brand 誠品生活日本橋 (Taiwan-originated lifestyle brand). The company runs music lesson programs and culture centers across 17 locations, manages public library operations (Yamauchi Library), and operates a publishing division producing original books, the bimonthly magazine 有鄛 (suspended 2025), and an e-book/POD label ごきげんビジネス出版. E-commerce is served through HonyaClub (store pickup service), Yahoo! Shopping store, and a Shopify-based official online store launched in 2026. The company also maintains an active YouTube channel with original merchandise, and provides B2B solutions including document, ICT, office planning, and procurement services to corporate and government clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STORY STORY: Compound retail concept combining books, goods, cafes, and events
• HIBIYA CENTRAL MARKET
• BASEGATE Yokohama Kannai
• HonyaClub
• 医学書センター
• ごきげんビジネス出版

Products and services

• Yurindo Physical Bookstore Network Chain of 44+ physical bookstore and stationery retail outlets offering books, magazines, stationery, and lifestyle goods to individual consumers across the Kanto and Kansai regions of Japan.
• HonyaClub (Online Book Ordering with Store Pickup) E-commerce platform for ordering books and magazines with free in-store pickup at any Yurindo location, enabling online-to-offline purchasing.
• Yurindo Yahoo! Shopping Store Official storefront on Yahoo! Shopping platform offering books, magazines, medical publications, and stationery products with delivery.
• Yurindo Online Store (Shopify-based) Official Shopify-based online store selling YouTube channel original merchandise, books, and lifestyle goods with social commerce integration.
• Medical Book Center (医学書センター) Specialized medical and nursing book sales floor with JMPA-certified medical bookstore designation, serving healthcare professionals and institutions through in-store and mail-order channels.
• STORY STORY YOKOHAMA (複合型店舗) Multi-format complex store combining books, lifestyle goods, cafe, and events; serves as Yurindo's flagship compound retail concept featuring the Okazaki Department curated stationery section.
• Eslite Spectrum Nihonbashi (誠品生活日本橋) Licensed Taiwan-originated cultural lifestyle store combining books, stationery, lifestyle goods, food, dining, and events; hosts over 100 cultural events annually promoting Taiwan-Japan exchange.
• HIBIYA CENTRAL MARKET Multi-tenant cultural commercial space at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya combining restaurants, bars, coffee shops, barber shop, gallery, and various specialty tenants under Yurindo's curation.
• BASEGATE Yokohama Kannai Compound store opened September 2025 near Kannai Station combining bookstore, restaurant '1909 + 有隣食堂,' and lifestyle goods space, named after Yurindo's founding year.
• Yurindo YouTube Channel Merchandise Original merchandise including goods, books, plush toys, and LINE stamps sold through the Shopify-based Yurindo Online Store, tied to the '有隣堂しか知らない世界' YouTube channel with 300+ videos.
• Yurindo Publications (有隣堂出版物) Original book publishing including the 'Yurindo Shinsho' series and standalone titles covering Yokohama/Kanagawa history, culture, literature, art, and visual large-format books.
• Gokigen Business Publishing (ごきげんビジネス出版) E-book and print-on-demand (POD) publishing label focused on business and professional development books targeting working professionals.
• Music & Culture Schools (ミュージック&スクール) Music lesson programs, culture center operations, robot programming courses (via Human Academy partnership), English conversation classes, and instrument sales/repair services across 17 locations.
• B2B Document/ICT/Office Planning Solutions (外商) B2B solutions including document solutions, ICT solutions (network, security, cloud), office planning (relocation/renovation), procurement optimization, and business consulting for corporate and government clients.
• YURINDO BUSINESS SOLUTION FAIR Annual online business solutions fair and seminar series for corporate customers covering topics like human capital management, DX, office layout, and ICT solutions.
• Life with Reading Card Set (読書のパターン・ランゲージ・カード) Pattern language card tool teaching reading selection, enjoyment, and creative reading methods, developed jointly with Keio University SFC Iba Laboratory. Sold at Yurindo stores and online.
• Life with Reading for Children (創造性を育む 本の楽しみかたカード)

Quantifiable outcome

• 5th anniversary celebration October 2025 with special promotions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sharelot / MOCHI (シェアロット / MOCHI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Corporate e-book subscription service partnership where Yurindo's Gokigen Business Publishing titles are featured. Two titles won department awards in 2025 Corporate Book Awards, validating business content quality and corporate training market relevance.
• Tokyo Art Paper Industrial Association - KURUMI (東京美術紙工業組合)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Collaboration for 115th anniversary book cover production kit launched July 2025. Combined Yurindo's retail reach with Tokyo Art Paper's manufacturing expertise for exclusive commemorative merchandise.
• Taiwan Economic Affairs Department Commercial Development AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Co-organized Taiwan Food Business Fair '台灣食街 (Food Street)' at Eslite Life Nihonbashi in November 2024, featuring 6 Taiwanese food franchise companies. Yurindo provided venue and operational support for Taiwan government-sponsored trade event.
• Human Academy (ヒューマンアカデミー)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2024Franchise partnership for robot programming courses at Totsuka Culture Center. Human Academy provides curriculum and brand while Yurindo operates physical classes. Started September 2024 targeting children for STEAM education.
• Yokohama City Yamauchi Library (横浜市山内図書館)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Yurindo serves as designated administrator for Yamauchi Library since 2010, renewed through 2030. Provides school library consulting, reading promotion events, student support programs, and community engagement activities. Partnership with local schools includes reading workshops using Life with Reading cards.
• Eslite Spectrum (誠品生活)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 September 2019Yurindo operates as exclusive Japanese licensee for Eslite Spectrum's cultural lifestyle brand. Opened Japan's first Eslite store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo in September 2019. Stores combine books, stationery, lifestyle goods, food, and cultural events. Planned second location in Osaka Namba for 2027. Partnership enables Yurindo to operate internationally-recognized cultural retail brand while contributing local operational expertise.
• Keio University SFC Ibuki Laboratory (慶應義塾大学SFC井庭崇研究室)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Joint development of reading promotion card systems including 'Life with Reading - 読書の秘诀カード' in 2017 (adult version) and '創造性を育む 本の楽しみかたカード' in 2022 (children's version). Cards use pattern language methodology to teach reading methods and enjoyment techniques. Partnership established Yurindo's credibility in educational and reading promotion activities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Eslite Spectrum: Taiwan-based cultural lifestyle bookstore chain and Yurindo's licensor; comparable experiential book-and-lifestyle model but primarily serving Taiwan/Greater China markets.

Emerging players

• Itoya: Premium Japanese stationery and lifestyle-goods retailer; overlaps with Yurindo's stationery/goods and curated Okazaki Department merchandising, though narrower in scope.

Broad incumbents

• Maruzen: Established Japanese bookseller with strong academic, institutional and library supply operations; overlaps with Yurindo's B2B/institutional book and supplies business.

Direct peers

• Bunkyodo: Japanese bookstore chain focused on Kanto-area retail stores; a close comparable in regional book and magazine retailing.
• Miraiya Shoten: Japanese bookstore operator known for book-cafe and community-oriented store formats; comparable to Yurindo's experiential retail and reading-promotion approach.
• Sanseido Bookstore: Japanese bookstore chain selling books, magazines and stationery through station and mall locations, competing directly in the same retail category.
• Kumazawa Shoten: One of Japan's larger bookstore chains operating suburban and mall stores; comparable multi-format book retailer serving similar customers.
• Culture Convenience Club (TSUTAYA / Tsutaya Books): Operates Tsutaya and lifestyle-oriented book-cafe complexes (T-Site); directly comparable to Yurindo's experiential book x cafe x goods store concepts.
• Maruzen Junkudo: Large Japanese bookstore operator (Maruzen + Junkudo) with retail stores, stationery and B2B/library supply; mirrors Yurindo's book retail plus institutional sales model.
• Kinokuniya: Major Japanese bookstore chain selling books, magazines and stationery across many stores; directly comparable multi-store book retailer competing for the same consumer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Yurindo_store
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmKlo3BXt60nzgk2r_JgvwQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100066490370661
• Instagraminstagram.com/yurindo_store
• TikToktiktok.com/@yurindo_youtube
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yurindo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yurindo