Opened in 2020 inside the riverside Nakanoshima Park, this spectacular children’s library was designed by star architect Tadao Ando, who also donated the structure to the city of Osaka. It’s a bibliophile’s fantasy come to life: three levels of dramatic, ceiling-high gridded shelves full of books, with smaller, more intimate areas defined by sloping ceilings and plenty of little nooks to hide out in.
Unusually, the around 20,000 books are neither strictly organised by genre or age range. With picture books sitting happily next to art books and short stories, the aim is to encourage free exploration. The books can’t be borrowed to take home, but visitors are encouraged to find a comfy spot anywhere in or around the premises – as long as they stay within Nakanoshima Park – to read in peace and quiet.
The majority of the library’s collection is in Japanese, but they have a small number of English-language books, which the staff will be happy to guide you and the kids to. Make sure to check their website before visiting, since the library may close irregularly due to maintenance and events.