It feels like stepping into Totoro’s cozy little house — a forest-themed bookstore in Taichung.

By MOOK Scenic Spots / Wu Pin-xuan, compiled and reported
 
The Lele Bookstore Artspace, founded on the principle of “exchanging books, not selling them,” is primarily dedicated to facilitating the movement of books, the exchange of knowledge, and inspiring new ways of living and thinking, creating a warm and happy atmosphere infused with the scents of books, coffee, and art for all who visit.

One of the most talked-about features at Lele is the century-old “Grandpa Banyan” tree planted indoors, stretching through both the first and second floors. Grandpa Banyan came from a municipal tree bank. To ensure he could breathe in nature, a large skylight was installed above, letting sunlight pour into Lele, making you feel as if you’re in the world of Totoro.

The two-story building has a book-filled reading area on the first floor and an artspace for hosting solo exhibitions on the second, turning the idea of a platform for sharing design into a tangible reality. The 10th and 25th of every month are Lele’s book donation days, while book exchange day is the 10th — bring your books to the store on the 10th and pick up your swapped ones on the 25th.