Online reading platforms may offer convenience, but physical bookstores provide more than just a space for browsing and discovering new reads. Tsutaya Bookstore will soon be taking its concept of “lifestyle and culture” to Cambodia.

Tsutaya Bookstore, Japan's largest bookstore chain founded in 1983, has redefined the bookstore experience by creating immersive lifestyle destinations. With over 800 outlets across Japan, China, Taiwan and Malaysia, Tsutaya Bookstore now sets its sights on Cambodia, where six new outlets are planned as part of the brand’s launch in the country. The first store will be unveiled by 2025.

Spearheading Tsutaya Bookstore's expansion into South-east Asia, Tsutaya Books Malaysia (TBM) opened the brand's first outlet in Malaysia in 2022. Now it has partnered with Urban Living Solutions (ULS), a Phnom Penh-based real estate and lifestyle development firm. This collaboration aims to introduce Tsutaya Bookstore's distinctive curation of media and lifestyle experiences to new audiences across the Asia-Pacific.

The first store in Osaka exemplified this vision by offering a unique selection of books, a cafe and CD rental services, paving the way for the innovative approach that would define Tsutaya Bookstore’s identity.

Complementing its vast collections, many Tsutaya Bookstore locations feature cafe and lounge areas, inviting customers to relax, enjoy a cup of coffee and browse their purchases in a cosy atmosphere. 

But what ...