There's something special about used bookstores....and this one definitely is special. I appreciated the variety of books written by and about people from many different backgrounds and experiences. I found a few books that have been on my to-read list for a while. The prices were on point as well. I walked away with reasonably priced books and was happy to support a local business in the process. I had a very enjoyable conversation with who appeared to be the owner. I appreciated the personal touch. One issue that I had was that the bookstore had active incense burning. The smell does add to the atmosphere. With my allergies, it prevented me from spending too much time in the store. This is likely not an issue for most, but if you have asthma or sensitive lungs, be aware this may be an issue for you. read more

Forest books is on the edge of Japantown. It's a small space, and the arrangement and selection kinds reminded me of a mini-Mo's bookstore. It's all used books (pretty sure) with a decent selection of antique books behind glass cabinets. The space is crowded, and I almost missed a couple sections before we left. One feature I really liked was the World Literature section, so you can load up on books from Turkey, France, wherever. All of the sections were well labeled, and the clerk present that day was pretty active helping out the customers. Definitely worth the detour down that stretch of Buchanan. read more

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Very cute bookstore with a cozy children's area! I happened to find this spot in the plaza while shopping at a different retailer. Nice selection of gently used books. The store is a good size, large enough for variety and small enough not to feel overwhelmed. There is also I separate room where children's books are housed which I found cute. I received a store bookmark with my purchase and would return if in the area. read more

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This used to be my favorite bookstore. I loved the indie used book store vibes and the smell of incense, but recently I went back and it looks so different. It used to be so coherent and now it just looks like they slapped a bunch of book shelves down on a linoleum office floor. What happened?? I sincerely hope they can change it back. read more

This bookstore in Japantown was really interesting. It's a used bookstore where the prices are listed on the first page, and in general, I found it a really cute spot to be. They have a really huge emphasis on books from underrepresented locations like Asian voices, Black Studies, and Native American authors. I ended up getting a book for $11, and I would definitely recommend coming back here again. I think there are a lot of niche-related books, but if you're trying to find mainstream popular book items, this is probably not your best location. The service is really nice. The person working behind the counter is extremely polite. She was filing books when I walked in, and, in general, can point you to the geographic location where they use this as a system to filter their books. read more

Terrific, dedicated owner. Well-curated selection of books from across the spectrum. Particularly well suited to those with refined taste. Very fine collection of Buddhist texts. read more

Great bookstore in Japantown with a very wide selection of books & at great prices too. Personnel I've met there are all very friendly & helpful if you're looking for any specific genre of books. read more

very nice place for book lovers - i love the vibe and atmosphere, even the music is good too read more

I grew up in a martial arts family and backpacked a week in Japan. I love Japanese culture. I love Japantown. Forest Books is a top notch bookstore that is recommended. I love bookstores and Forest Books is on their A game. Friendly staff can direct you in the right direction. Very cool book of interviews with the immortal Bob Dylan and awesome book of photographs of Patti Smith. Loved their books in Eastern Religion and philosophy. I picked up an interesting book on the I Ching. Like plant based legend Arnold said "I'll be back". read more

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I love this bookstore. The space embodies peace. The shop specializes in second-hand books of all kinds, and their Buddhist text collection is impressive. You won't find these specific titles just anywhere. It's the kind of place where you can easily lose track of time browsing through shelves. Gregory, the owner, is very friendly and welcoming. He is great at giving recommendations tailored to what you're into. All in all, Forest Books is more than just a bookstore. It's a place to relax, explore, and maybe stumble upon some life-changing wisdom. Definitely worth a visit. read more

This is a cute bookstore that has an interesting array of books from books on spirituality, inner peace, languages, and children's books. While I paid much more for a Siddartha book than I could've paid online, my partner found a chinese language book that explains the different characters in chinese for a fraction for what he could have gotten it for. What I loved about this place coming here on a Saturday afternoon was the community vibes - there were children, adults and those in between surveying the book shop. The books themselves were interesting ones that fit my type of books of self-exploration and cultural understanding. I hope to be back here again soon!! read more

Forest Books - Bookstores Near Me - San Francisco, California

One of the most delightful bookstores in SF, and has a wonderful rare books collection! I had never seen the first edition of Norwegian Wood in person before, which was a delight. I haven't been back since before the pandemic but I remember the kind service and excellent books fondly. read more

Yelp is all about local business, and a local business like this should definitely be on every book-lover Yelper's radar. I mainly judge a bookstore by its inventory and the friendliness of the staff. Forest books excels in both aspects. In terms of inventory, it may be kind of small compared to Moe's books in Berkeley, but it has the same appeal for having a good variety of non-commercial books, focusing on more academic topics. I bought The Origins of Totalitarianism on my first visit here and got into a conversation with the store owner about this book. This touches the second aspect of this store: the owner and staff are all very friendly to the customers and make great book recommendations. The owner has a keen interest in Asian studies, so I would recommend anyone looking for books on Asian culture to visit the store and talk to him personally! read more

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I do like this bookstore. It's so San Francisco. Intellectuals, tourists, Japanese Americans, travelers, intellectuals and kooks all shop here. Yes, lot's of overlap in those categories. It's a small place but given the size they have a good assortment especially in world literature, humanities, and of course, Japanese American interests. Prices seem fair and there's a good balance of used and new. read more

Forest Books - Bookstores Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What I really enjoy about Forest Books is the relaxed atmosphere full of books "curated" by Greg the owner. There are so many books for sale on Amazon or B&N. Many are hot books with hot topics that fall in best seller lists etc. those are nice and all but what is really neat is having a subject you enjoy (for me history) and going to that section and finding "curated" gems to pick from. I end up grabbing a book I hadn't heard of and enjoying it. We also get to reuse paper books and give books off the radar another chance. A recent book "Duel" that I grabbed which outlined the vignette leading up to the Burr/Hamilton duel was excellent. And I wouldn't have read it if I didn't find it here. So this is a nod for used book stores and Greg's little gem in Japan town in particular. He also does a meditation group and has a specialty in certain Japanese items if you're interested. read more

When you first see the shop you are welcomed by a small selection of books for sale. The organization of the bookstore is customer friendly. The book selection within this store is superb; whoever is selecting these books is talented and I thank you. Pricing here is skeptical. What is reading when the price of a book is so high? This store makes me feel like reading is a dying art. It shouldn't be. All the books have a sticker on the price or crossed out the true price of the book. My most recent purchase has a price of $2.50 on the book. Why is it I am paying $11 for it? There isn't anything inherently sneaking about covering up prices and up charging. The type of books they have is very nice. I feel as though I am allowed to explore the world with the books of various countries they offer. I appreciate the ability of being taken to a new world. Nice selection of talented, Nobel Prize and other award winning writers. They separate their sections into countries and interesting studies including Psychology, Women, African American Studies, etc. This bookstore roots for the underdog and embraces the stories of those who are often ignored. This is now my favorite bookstore in SF. read more

Used book, NEw books, Books on whaatttttttt? This place has a very unique selection of books. It's a bit quiet so you can hear your thoughts and the shop keeper is very nice and informative. I found a lot of good books here for the liking and different books that's hard to come by. I love the selection of this place. And very grateful for it. read more

What a super quaint little find! A used/collectible book store located in Japantown, we stumbled across this on the weekend while checking out the Cherry Blossom Festival. Being fans of bookstores in general and wanting to support a slowly dying business, we stopped in. The selection is a bit sparse compared to most other types of used bookstores, but I did find something interesting to get while I was there. Unlike other stores of this type though, it lacked that musty, dusty, dirty book smell. Very clean, brightly lit, and quite neat, this was a pleasant stop. Not that used bookstores are unpleasant, but anyone who goes to these types of stores knows the smell I'm talking about. The store owner (I'm assuming that's who was behind the counter) was super friendly and nice, always a bonus! We didn't look around much, mostly sticking to the sci-fi/fantasy/horror section, but I liked what I saw and would be more than happy to stop by any time I'm in the Japantown area. read more

Love this cozy little place. Nice and friendly staff, good selection of newer and first editions signed. A lot of very nice books about far east Asian arts and crafts, including some rare early dictionaries and historical works. A large selection of new age and Eastern philosophy books. All tucked away in a neat little edge of Japantown. read more

This looks like it might have a good selection of books, but when I tried to go in and browse the other day, I found the incense odor so offensive that I had to leave in less than a minute. If you have any allergies, you can forget about this place. There would be no point wearing a mask to browse since, if you buy anything here, the book will be suffused with incense, and you'll be bringing that into your house. Some people love incense, and I guess this is the bookstore for them. But it seems like a foolish business practice to force such effluvia on those who can't tolerate it. No one goes to a bookstore because he needs to smell incense -- but I and many others will avoid this one in favor of the dozens of other bookstores where we can breathe and purchase books that won't stink up our homes. (I spend about $1000 a year on books, $0 on scenting agents.) The store's been there for several years, so perhaps the owner knows his customers and feels content with them and feels no need for new or additional ones. That's up to him, but he should put a warning sign in the window. read more

The selection is exquisite. The interior space of the store is comfortable and relaxing, adding to an already pleasant browsing experience. I recommend their history and politics section. It contains so many fascinating titles published through the years. Long live Forest Bookstore! read more

The store owner, Gregory, is a delight and his shop is a treasure. You will feel better having met him or visiting his store. A real gem in today's world. read more

Great place! Very peaceful, pleasant atmosphere and a nicely tended to selection of used books. The owner (Gregory) is an old-school SF local and a great guy to chat with. He moved Forest Books from The Mission to Japantown a couple of years ago and the shop has been a great addition to the neighborhood. Please stop by this lovely shop and buy a book when your in the neighborhood! read more

I happen to come across when I happen to take a different route then my usual. This book store has a lot of hidden treasures and finds. I browsed through the cook book section. There were plenty of older cook books which I prefer because they usually have recipes where everything is made from scratch. I found a large book on Italian cooking and looked it up on my phone. Turns out this one of those books referred to as a Bible of Italian cooking. The prices listed from online sellers for a used, coverless, or damaged book was pricey. The copy in the bookstore was in great condition and reasonably priced. There is a children's section with miniature seats and a table. Looking through the different sections of the store, I noticed books on anarchism, local history, Eastern religions. Very San Francisco. With what I saw, I could tell the owner puts much thought into each selection. All the used books I saw were in good condition. The owner treats people well and strikes up conversations with customers as he rings up merchandise. He has an easy going demeanor and is very knowledgeable. On my second visit (months after my first), I was surprised he remembered me and our conversation about a French movie he was recommending. You don't experience this kind of customer service with these huge franchises these days. In addition to the Italian book, I purchased cookbooks about pastry making, Thai cuisine, and Vegetarian Chinese cuisine. I am proud to support this wonderful bookstore. read more

Love this bookstore! A rare find and you should for sure go inside and pick up a book. Not the typical bestsellers collection - very zen and local. The owner works here and will talk about the books. read more

Good selection of used books. The owner is sensitive to books that would appeal to anyone with a taste for the humanities. Unfortunately, he also tended to offer attention generously to one of SF cranks who had no intention of buying. I did. When the phone rang, and the owner took the call, which was clearly personal (and not business), I stood there waiting. The call continued. I returned the book. But not before taking a pic of the cover, so I could buy it online. Make a choice folks. Sell books. Or visit with friends. read more

Lovely eclectic selection of books and an extremely friendly owner. They have a nice selection of limited and first editions of some fascinating niche publications along with more contemporary work. Definitely worth a browse. read more

The store owner Gregory is so much fun to chat with about books, culture, conspiracy theories, history, art, New Age topics, Eastern religion and so much more! I always learn something new and interesting when I'm there. I go into the store to browse and usually leave with 4 or 5 books every time. The store is very calming and well-stocked with unusual, rare books. I always stop in when I'm in JapanTown. read more

I am so happy to have stumbled upon Forest Books while visiting SF. It's perfectly curated with hard to find reads, and I can tell the owner loves going to "work" everyday. He is helpful in sourcing rarities, and I purchased a 1948 Anais Nin short story compilation. The only downfall is that I cannot scoop up this library all at once, because there are so many good finds. Meticulously kept and organized, I came across first editions of Ezra Pound and Virginia Woolf; interesting cultural and art books, as well as an ample selection of philosophy. I will always stop by Forest Books whenever I'm in SF from now on read more

At true portal to pure magic in SF! The workers are passionate about books, it smells amazing, and the vibes are just right. It's easy to spend hours in here. So glad this place exists. read more

Forest Books - Bookstores Near Me - San Francisco, California

Can't recommend this store enough! I was in town for a conference and dropped by to find a great selection - especially foreign authors - and ended up going back the next day for another round of book buying. The owner was very nice and personable, and it was fun chatting with him as well. read more

Great Find! Stumbled upon this book store in Japantown. Great atmosphere, interesting selection of books, and the man who rang up my purchase, who I assumed to be the owner, seems to take great pride in his business. Walked away with a great book of Haikus and feeling like I had had a unique shopping experience. I recommend you seek this place out. read more

What a fantastic place to pick up the evening's reading or a book for the plane, also, wonderful Japanese incense!

What a wonderful bookstore. It's like it's my own library, only amplified. If I have ever wanted a book, it's usually here somewhere. Not so much fiction and so forth, but introspective, science-based, philosophy-tinged, spiritually solid, world history-, sociology-, language-, art-, and health-type titles. I panicked when I saw it had vacated the 16th Street/Valencia address. Taking a deep breath now I see they moved to Japantown. More San Francisco than ever. And that is a good thing indeed. read more

My favorite Bookstore in all the Western shires. A fine place of intellect, peace, and serenity. So much so I have introduced my closest of lady friends to this establishment in my travels. The owner of this shop is a highly intelligent scholar possessing much true knowledge on spiritual matters and on the ways of the mind. The shop is filled with many rare books. Their metaphysical, history, and fantasy sections rock. My Timeless Myths collection and one of my longtime favorite sagas Fortune's Fool, a Tale of the 500 Kingdoms- by Mercedes Lackley- was acquired here. Their staff rocks, their owner rocks. For those of you who choose the path of Light or simply am one who enjoys studying rare unique literature which you can obtain here for very affordable rates, I recommend this awesome shop. read more

What a great find! We were visiting San Francisco and found Forest Books when walking around. Great selection, well organized, and the owner is a delightful and very positive person. We'll definitely be back the next time we visit SF. read more

A marvelous, memorable experience and completely recommended. Forest Books has an excellent selection of translated literary fiction satisfyingly organized by language of origin, as well as, among others, rich historical and philosophical sections. The interior is such a wonderful, calm, pleasant space that I could easily lose an hour or more on a given day perusing the shelves. The owner is super friendly and a joy to talk with. Highly recommended. read more

Small but delightful selection! The people just couldn't be nicer. Very happy to support them and glad to hear that the Japanese community is very welcoming too. read more