Why it belongs in ORBIS
Seesaw Books is a new-release bookstore in Sapporo's Kita ward, a minute's walk from Kita-18-jo Station behind UNTAPPED HOSTEL. It stocks a wide selection of independently published zines from across Japan.
Seesaw Books opened as a new-release bookstore in Sapporo's Kita ward, two subway stops north of Sapporo Station and a one-minute walk from Kita-18-jo Station on the Namboku line. The shop sits directly behind UNTAPPED HOSTEL, sharing the same building complex as the guesthouse.
Alongside current book releases, Seesaw stocks an unusually wide range of independently published zines sourced from across Japan, a focus that sets it apart from general bookstores in the neighborhood. The shop keeps a fixed schedule — open daily from 11:00 to 19:00, closed every Wednesday and on the first Tuesday of each month, with occasional changes for in-store events.
Seesaw also runs an online shop through Square and lists events through Peatix, suggesting a program of readings or signings beyond straightforward retail. For visitors staying at UNTAPPED HOSTEL or passing through Kita-18-jo, it functions as both a neighborhood bookstore and a specialist stop for zine collectors.