30-40 minutes by limousine bus from Aso Kumamoto Airport in Mashiki Town 30-40 minutes by tram from JR Kumamoto Station 20 minutes on foot from JR Shinsuizenji Station 5 minutes on foot from the Suizenji-Koen-Mae (front of Suizenji Park) / Kenritsu Toshokan Iriguchi (Prefectural Library entrance) bus stop or Suizenji-Koen-Mae (front of Suizenji Park) bus stop 5 minutes on foot from the 19 Shiritsu Taiikukan-mae (front of municipal gymnasium) tram stop Parking is at the back of the Kumamoto City Municipal Gymnasium (shared with the gym). Bicycle parking is on the north side of the library.
① Entrance hall ② General reception ③ Children's library ④ Audiovisual room ⑤ Library gallery ⑥ Vending machine room ⑦ Kumamoto Museum of Literature and History ⑧ Garden of the former villa of the Hosokawa family in Sunatori ⑨ Bicycle parking
They have special material, including big books and picture story cards to lend to story-telling groups. There is a collection of books and materials on child-rearing as well. We regularly hold story telling sessions.
○ Audiovisual Room
You can enjoy the collection of audio and video materials, including CDs and DVDs here. Materials are not be loaned for use outside the audiovisual room. Please use materials in the Audiovisual Room only.
○Vending Machine Room
Vending machines for drinks and snacks are available.
This museum has valuable materials, including literature, ancient documents and old drawings related to Kumamoto. Please see Kumamoto Museum of Literature and History page for details.
2nd Floor
① 1st Reading Room ② Lounge
◎ Restroom ◆ Elevator
〇1st Reading Room
General books, multilingual books, and a collection of first issues of magazines.
3rd Floor
① 2nd Reading Room ② Lounge
◎ Restroom ◆ Elevator
○ 2nd Reading Room
Newspapers, magazines, administrative documents, and local documents
You can enter the library and read books freely, but you need a library card to borrow books.
You can apply for a library card if you live, work or go to school in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Please provide an ID with your name, date of birth and current home address, such as your driver's license or residence card.
◆ Borrowing and returning books
You can borrow up to 10 books at a time for up to 15 days.
Please return books to the Reading Room counter within the loan period. When the library is closed, please return books to the return box next to the main entrance or in front of the side entrance on the north side.
◆ Using the Internet
Kumamoto Free Wi-Fi is available inside the library.
The Reading Rooms have personal computers that can be used to access the Internet. Please go to the counter and apply for the service before use.
