Kinokuniya Is Opening a Second Houston Location in Rice Village This Fall

Houston manga fans, your next bookstore run just got a lot closer.

Kinokuniya, the nearly century-old Japanese bookstore chain known for its extensive selection of manga, books, stationery and anime-related goods, is opening a second Houston-area location in Rice Village this fall.

The new store will take over the former Village Fitness space at 2369 Rice Blvd., giving Inner Loop shoppers a new place to browse Japanese and English-language books, graphic novels, stationery, art books and more. The roughly 5,600-square-foot storefront will sit just a few blocks from Rice University.

For Houstonians who have made the drive to Kinokuniya's Katy location, the new Rice Village shop could be a particularly welcome addition.

A New Kinokuniya for the Inner Loop

Kinokuniya currently has one Houston-area store, located in Katy. The company says the Katy location has performed particularly well, prompting the decision to expand with a second Houston store—a notable move for a retailer that typically operates one location per city.

The Rice Village location will bring that same bookstore-meets-Japanese-culture experience closer to Houston's urban core.

Shoppers can expect a broad selection of manga, graphic novels, books, magazines, stationery, paper goods and gifts, with books available in both English and Japanese. The selection also extends beyond manga, including art and design books, cookbooks, travel books and children's books.

For students and residents around Rice University, West University and the surrounding Inner Loop neighborhoods, that puts one of the country's best-known Japanese bookstores within a much easier trip.

More Than Just a Manga Store

While manga and anime are likely to be major draws, Kinokuniya's appeal goes well beyond them.

The chain has built its reputation around its mix of Japanese and international books, specialty stationery and lifestyle products. Its stores are often destinations for readers, artists, collectors, students and stationery enthusiasts alike.

The Katy location, for example, describes itself as a place where shoppers can explore books, manga, anime, stationery and Japanese-imported products. It also features a makerspace for workshops, presentations and lectures.

The Rice Village location is also expected to include event space, giving the new bookstore the potential to become more than a place to shop. That could mean a new venue for author appearances, community events, workshops and other programming once the store opens.

A New Tenant for a Familiar Rice Village Space

Kinokuniya's arrival will also give new life to a storefront that recently became available.

The bookstore is taking over the former Village Fitness location at 2369 Rice Blvd. Village Fitness had operated there for nearly three decades before closing. The space is approximately 5,600 square feet and sits near Morningside Drive, close to Rice University.

The location fits Kinokuniya's concept particularly well. Rice Village is a highly walkable shopping district, and its proximity to Rice University gives the bookstore access to a large student and academic community.

It also adds another destination to an area that has continued to attract new retail and dining concepts.

When Will Kinokuniya Open in Rice Village?

The new Kinokuniya is targeting an fall 2026 opening at 2369 Rice Blvd., Houston, TX 77005. Local reporting identifies the project as a roughly 5,600-square-foot build-out of the former Village Fitness space.

For now, an exact grand-opening date has not been announced.

Once it opens, however, Houston residents will have a much more convenient option for Japanese books, manga, stationery and gifts without making the trip west to Katy.

And considering how Houston's manga and anime community has grown, the timing couldn't be better.

Kinokuniya Rice Village:
2369 Rice Blvd.
Houston, TX 77005
Opening: Fall 2026

Whether you're looking for your next manga series, Japanese stationery you absolutely do not need but definitely want, or simply a new bookstore to wander through on a Saturday afternoon, Kinokuniya's arrival gives Houston's Inner Loop another reason to spend some time in Rice Village.