YURINDO

Quick Facts

What it is

YURINDO (株式会社有隣堂)—named from a passage in the Analects of Confucius meaning "Virtue does not stand alone; it will always have neighbors" (徳は孤ならず、必ず隣あり)—was founded on December 13, 1909 along Yokohama's historic Isezakicho shopping promenade. Throughout its century-long evolution, YURINDO distinguished itself from sterile book chains by curating warmth, intellectual curiosity, and community culture across the Greater Tokyo and Kanagawa regions.

In modern times, YURINDO achieved widespread cultural acclaim and a massive fan following through its wildly humorous official YouTube program, "The World Only Yurindo Knows" (有隣堂しか知らない世界). Hosted by its delightfully blunt, sarcastic owl mascot R.B. Buccolow (R.B.ブッコロー), the show deep-dives into obsessive topics like eraser elasticity, vintage pencil sharpeners, and obscure dictionaries. Beyond viral comedy, YURINDO's physical stores—such as its massive subterranean hub at Yokohama Station West Exit JOINUS and the chic boutique inside Atre Ebisu—curate bespoke Japanese stationery, Yokohama heritage memorabilia, fine leather book jackets, and contemporary lifestyle items. With convenient station-direct locations and tax-free services, YURINDO is a delightful retail discovery.

How to order

Step 1: Locating Prime Station-Connected Branches

• YURINDO stores are positioned directly inside premier railway terminal shopping centers:
  • Yokohama: Yokohama Station West Exit JOINUS (subterranean concourse) and Isezakicho Main Store.
  • Tokyo: Atre Ebisu (connected directly to JR Ebisu Station), Shinagawa, and Hibiya.
• Take a shopping basket at the entrance to gather your literary and stationery selections.

Step 2: Browsing Curated Lifestyle & Mascot Corners

• Stationery & Craft Pavilion: Discover Japanese fountain pen inks, Midori planners, traditional Washi paper envelopes, and ergonomic mechanical pencils.
• R.B. Buccolow Corner (有隣堂しか知らない世界): Dedicated displays of exclusive owl-mascot merchandise—including acrylic keychains, plush mascot dolls, custom ceramic mugs, and satirical stationery items celebrating the viral show.
• Regional Souvenir Books & Yokohama Memorabilia: Vintage photography books of the Port of Yokohama, maritime maps, and local sweets.

Step 3: Enjoying the "Collab Cafe" & Concept Spaces

• Select flagship locations (such as Hibiya Central Market or Story Story) incorporate artisanal lifestyle cafes where visitors can order specialty pour-over coffee and browse art books in a relaxed setting.

Step 4: Checkout & 2026 Tax-Free Refund Procedure

• Tax-free eligibility varies by store. In certified stores (including Yokohama JOINUS and Atre Ebisu), head to the designated Tax-Free Cashier Counter (免税対応レジ).
• Inform the cashier: "Tax-Free kudasai" and hand over your original physical passport (digital photos or photocopies are strictly prohibited by Japanese tax law).
• Under Japan's airport refund tax-free mechanism (enacted November 1, 2026):
  1. Pay the full tax-inclusive total at the counter using cash, international credit cards, or supported mobile payments.
  2. The participating retailer verifies your eligibility and registers the tax-free purchase electronically in the National Tax Agency’s system, directly or through an approved provider. Follow the shop’s passport or supported Visit Japan Web procedure.
  3. Using books and other reusable purchases: Books, writing paper, mascot plushies, totes and leather book covers may be used in Japan if the same goods leave the country with you within 90 days of purchase. The former legal categories of “general goods” and “consumables” were abolished on November 1, 2026, and special sealed packaging is not required.
  4. At the airport on departure day (within 90 days of purchase, and BEFORE checking your baggage with your airline), present your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal for export confirmation. Keep all purchased tax-free goods available; show them at the customs inspection area only if a red result requires it.
  5. The tax refund is executed by the merchant where purchased or its designated refund operator, using the method registered at the time of purchase (such as a direct credit card account reversal). At some airports, participating purchases may qualify for cash collection at a designated refund terminal; check the availability and registered refund method with the seller.

What to order first

1. R.B. Buccolow (R.B.ブッコロー) Official Mascot Merch

• Japanese Name: R.B.ブッコロー ぬいぐるみマスコット / アクリルキーホルダー
• Price: ~¥880–¥3,300 (tax-included; subject to revision)
• Why It Is Essential: The official owl character of YURINDO's cult YouTube show has become one of Japan's most beloved indie bookstore mascots. With his wide, expressive eyes and witty persona, Buccolow plush keychains, embroidered canvas totes, and stationery stickers make delightful conversation-starter souvenirs.

2. YURINDO Original "Yokohama Harbor Blue" Fountain Pen Ink

• Japanese Name: 有隣堂オリジナル ボトルインク (横浜港ブルー / 港町セピア)
• Price: ~¥2,200–¥2,750 (tax-included; subject to revision)
• Why It Is Essential: Specially blended in collaboration with master Japanese ink houses, this deep, maritime blue ink evokes the deep waters of the historic Port of Yokohama. Encased in a retro square glass bottle, it flows smoothly through both fine and broad gold nibs without feathering.

3. Hand-Stitched Genuine Leather Japanese Book Jackets (Bunkobon Covers)

• Japanese Name: 本革ブックカバー (文庫サイズ / 新書サイズ)
• Price: ~¥3,850–¥7,700 (tax-included; subject to revision)
• Why It Is Essential: In Japan, readers cherish their privacy by covering book jackets on trains. YURINDO crafts exquisite vegetable-tanned leather covers tailored precisely for Japanese standard bunkobon paperbacks and A6 notebooks. Over years of use, the natural leather develops a rich, glossy honey-colored patina.

4. Japanese Calligraphy & Fine Eraser Collector Sets

• Japanese Name: 厳選日本の消しゴム・鉛筆削り / 筆ペンコレクション
• Price: ~¥660–¥2,860 (tax-included; subject to revision)
• Why It Is Essential: Reflecting the viral episodes on its YouTube channel, YURINDO curates the finest eraser collections in Japan—including high-polymer non-dust erasers, precision pen-type click erasers from Tombow, and Kuretake natural hair brush pens for Japanese brush lettering.

5. Yokohama Vintage History & Architecture Photo Books

• Japanese Name: 横浜レトロ建築写真集 / 港町ヨコハマ今昔写真帖
• Price: ~¥2,200–¥5,500 (tax-included; subject to revision)
• Why It Is Essential: As Yokohama's native cultural steward, YURINDO stocks authoritative photography books contrasting Meiji-era Western brick warehouses and gas lamps with modern Minato Mirai skylines. These bilingual photo collections capture the unique cosmopolitan history of Japan's first treaty port.

Payment & practical info

Prices and details checked: November 2026.

• Accepted Payment Modes: Cash (JPY), major global credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay), transit IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA), e-money (iD, QUICPay), and mobile QR codes (PayPay, Rakuten Pay, d-Barai, etc.).
• Tax-Free Refund Rules (Enacted November 1, 2026):
  • Minimum eligible spend: In general, qualifying goods purchased by the same person at the same participating tax-free store on the same day must total ¥5,000 or more before tax. Ask staff how multiple checkouts are registered. Eligible purchases from different stores can be combined only where the designated joint tax-free procedure permits this.
  • Pay full tax-inclusive price at checkout; passport is electronically registered; obtain customs export verification at the airport before checking baggage; refund is processed back to the registered payment method by the merchant or refund operator.
  • Books and stationery are non-consumable products and may be used during your trip in Japan; must be exported within 90 days.
• Operating Hours: Station mall branches (such as Yokohama JOINUS and Atre Ebisu) typically operate from 10:00 to 21:00 daily (hours vary by store).
• Transit Accessibility: Because most branches are located directly inside railway stations, you can easily shop between train connections without walking in the rain.
• Promotional Discounts: Promotional discount campaigns or digital coupons may be offered during specific promotional periods. These offers typically specify clear validity windows, exclude price-maintained Japanese books, and may require partner payment cards. Inquire at customer service for current details.

Good to know / Common mistakes

1. Yokohama JOINUS Is Underneath the Station

The flagship Yokohama store is located on the B1 level of the JOINUS shopping concourse directly connected to the West Exit of JR Yokohama Station. It is vast and easy to spend an hour exploring stationery before boarding the train to Kamakura.

2. You May Read Books and Use Tote Bags During Your Trip

Books, stationery and mascot merchandise are reusable goods. You may carry your new YURINDO tote, write in a journal or read a purchased book while in Japan, provided you take those same items out of the country for the tax-free customs confirmation. The old legal separation into “general goods” and “consumables” no longer applies.

3. Check for Tax-Free Eligibility

Tax-Free service is offered at major railway terminal branches frequented by international visitors (like Yokohama JOINUS and Atre Ebisu). Smaller suburban community branches may only handle domestic tax-inclusive sales. Check for the red-and-white Japan Tax-Free emblem at the checkout counter.

Sources

• YURINDO Official Corporate Portal (Verified: 2026-11-09)
• YURINDO Store Directory & Station Locations (Verified: 2026-11-09)
• Japan Customs Departure Tax-Free Regulations (Verified: 2026-11-09)