Tokyo’s Jimbōchō (Jinbōchō) has been named the “world’s coolest neighbourhood for 2025” by Time Out, thanks to its unique blend of literary culture, café life and grassroots creativity.

With around 130 bookstores—many specializing in used, rare and academic titles—the district is long recognized as Tokyo’s book town.

Its vintage shopfronts now sit beside indie galleries, curry houses, art spaces and coffee shops that thread the old and new together.

Time Out’s methodology combines nominations from its global editors and local experts, then ranks districts on criteria such as culture, community, livability, food and drink, street life and a sense of “nowness”.

Jimbōchō stood out for capturing an intellectual ambiance while evolving in step with contemporary tastes.

Its location in Chiyoda ward, near major universities and publishing houses, enriches its identity as a living literary enclave.

In second place is Borgerhout in Antwerp, praised for its arts-driven energy and neighborhood cohesion.

Third goes to Barra Funda in São Paulo, noted for industrial repurposing and creative vitality.

London’s Camberwell ranks fourth for its grassroots arts and multicultural pulse, while Chicago’s Avondale takes fifth, celebrated for its emerging music venues, wellness spots and vintage-business scene.

The full list of 39 neighborhoods this year emphasizes places where culture is grounded in local life—not just trendiness.

Grace Beard, Time Out’s travel editor, says the list “champions spots that locals truly love and that deserve just as much attention as a city’s main tourist hubs”.

In Tokyo’s case, Jimbōchō’s elevation shows that a heritage district built on books and knowledge can continue to thrive without losing character—and become a global cultural touchstone in the process.