※The Kumamoto Museum of Literature and History is in the Kumamoto Prefectural Library.

○ Opening Hours
Kumamoto Museum of Literature and History9:30 - 17:15
Children's Library, Audiovisual Room　
1st and 2nd Reading Room　　Mon, Wed-Fri9:30 - 19:00
Sat, Sun, and holidays9:30 - 17:15
○ Closed  
Tuesdays, last Friday of the month, New Year's holiday, special inventory period (within 14 days a year)

○ Admission Free

○ Access Map　　Address: 5-1, Izumi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto Prefecture
Transport：

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.

○Services and Rules


Kumamoto Free Wi-Fi is available.
Rental stroller is available in the library. The general reception desk on the 1st floor has one for rent.
Rental wheelchair is available in the library. The general reception desk on the 1st floor has one for rent.
Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available in the entrance hall and in the Kumamoto Museum of Literature and History.
Nursing room for babies is in the Children's Library.
Please keep noise down in the library.
No smoking on the premises.
Turn off the power to your cell phone or set it to manner mode in the library.
No photography allowed in the library.
No food or drinks are allowed in the Reading Rooms or the Kumamoto Museum of Literature and History.
Use the eating space for eating and drinking.
No pets allowed.
AED is next to the general reception desk on the 1st floor.

○Floor Map (1st-3rd floors)

1st Floor

1st Floor Map

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

⇔ Entry
◎ Restroom
(Wheelchair-accessible)
◆ Elevator
△ Nursing room
♥ ＡＥＤ

Children's Library

Audiovisual Room
○ Children's Library

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.


○Kumamoto Museum of Literature and History

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

1st Reading Room
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
○ 2nd Reading Room

Newspapers, magazines, administrative documents, and local documents

○ Library Use Guidelines

◆ Applying for a library card

  • 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.