蔦屋書店號稱日本最美書店，此外，蔦屋書店的特色有書籍與咖啡結合的閱讀體驗、充滿設計感的木質調舒適空間、嚴選的高質感文創雜貨，我直覺上就覺得它很像誠品書店，我對誠品書店的第一印象是二十四小時不打烊的閱讀體驗，不過，這幾年的誠品書店也與一些咖啡小店結合，而舒適的閱讀空間及設計感的文創雜貨是本來誠品書店就有的特色，逛書店已經不是單純的買書行為，好像變成一項體驗活動，去書店體驗生活，看看書店的陳列，那些最熱賣的書籍，及流行的文創小物等。
最近在文創園區新開的蔦屋書店，除了坐落於文創園區的歷史建築中，更設有約八十席的共享空間，配備專業的展示與音響設備，最多可容納一百五十人，適合舉辦藝術、時尚、文化等多元主題活動，有近七成的空間都是共享空間，書櫃僅一排、藏書不到一千冊，是一間不像書店的書店，不過，只要每小時一百八十元就可以擁有一個含有電源插座和免費 Wi-Fi 上網的座位，以及無限取用點心、零食、飲料的自助吧，我在書店外頭瞧了一眼，店內的客人不超過十人。
共享空間最有名的是前幾年破產的 WeWork，聽說 WeWork 的收費貴得驚人，因為 WeWork 的地點多在指標性商業區，且包含專業的辦公設施，如接待、水電、清潔、印表機、高速 Wi-Fi等，甚至提供無限量供應的咖啡與啤酒，最大的優點是方便拓展人脈，或許坐在你旁邊的就是小型企業的負責人，工作之餘閒聊一下，可能就找到了下一份工作，而蔦屋書店的共享空間定位，好像是為文青們提供一個舒適的閱讀空間，對我而言，或許一間充滿咖啡香的小店，是個更愜意的閱讀空間，不過，我對蔦屋書店共享空間的自助吧有些心動，只是貴了一些。
TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE is often called one of the most beautiful bookstores in Japan. What makes it special is the way it combines books with cafés, cozy wooden interiors, and carefully selected lifestyle and design goods. My first impression was that it feels a lot like Eslite Bookstore. When I think of Eslite, I immediately remember its famous 24-hour reading experience. Over the years, Eslite has also partnered with cafés, and its comfortable reading spaces and stylish lifestyle products have always been part of its identity. These days, visiting a bookstore isn't just about buying books anymore. It's become more of an experience—you go to enjoy the atmosphere, browse the displays, check out the latest bestsellers, and see what's trending in lifestyle and design products.
A new TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE recently opened in a cultural and creative park. It's located inside a historic building and features a shared space with around 80 seats. The space is equipped with professional display and sound systems and can accommodate up to 150 people, making it suitable for art, fashion, cultural events, and many other activities. Surprisingly, nearly 70% of the store is dedicated to this shared workspace. There's only one row of bookshelves with fewer than 1,000 books, so it hardly feels like a traditional bookstore. For NT$180 per hour, you get a seat with a power outlet, free Wi-Fi, and unlimited access to a self-service snack and drink bar. I took a quick look inside from the entrance, and there were fewer than ten customers.
When it comes to shared workspaces, the most famous name is probably WeWork, which made headlines a few years ago when it went bankrupt. I've heard WeWork was incredibly expensive because its locations were usually in prime business districts. It also offered professional office facilities such as reception services, utilities, cleaning, printers, high-speed Wi-Fi, and even unlimited coffee and beer. One of its biggest advantages was the networking opportunities. You never knew if the person sitting next to you might be the owner of a startup or a small business. A casual conversation during a break could even lead to your next job.
TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE's shared space seems to target people who simply want a comfortable place to read, work, or relax. Personally, I think a cozy little café filled with the aroma of fresh coffee would be an even more enjoyable place to read. Still, I have to admit that the unlimited snack and drink bar at TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE is pretty tempting... I just wish it were a little cheaper.
