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Japan's 1st Drive-Through Bookstore Closes This Month
posted on by Egan Loo
Japan's first drive-through bookstore is closing in Tokyo at the end of this month. The Hisamido chain opened this store in the Asahi area of Tokyo's Machida City in 1987, and 20-40 cars went through it daily at the time. Customers could drive up to a microphone and request magazines and books from their cars. Not only did the store prove to be convenient for many, but also easy-to-use for the disabled. It also garnered media attention, and the American news channel CNN even did a report on it.
Many people once used the drive-through on rainy days or for weekly magazine and manga shopping runs, but the rise of online bookstores took its toll. In recent years, only one to two vehicles would drive through on a typical day. With the store's lease expiring, Hisamido decided to close the store after 24 years of service. However, Hisamido's newer store in Tokyo's Honmachi City (pictured at left) will still retain its drive-through service.
Source: Yomiuri
