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History, Culture & Artisans 2026.09.25

Before You Open a Book, Take in the Architecture: An Autumn Day at the International Library of Children’s Literature in Ueno

By Tadayuki Matsui (Editorial Department)
Photos courtesy of the International Library of Children’s Literature, Kanazawa Umimirai Library, Toyo Bunko Museum, and the Editorial Department

In Japan, autumn is traditionally associated with reading. But before easing into the season, spend time in a place made for books.
The International Library of Children’s Literature in Ueno occupies a historic building that once housed the Imperial Library and has since been adapted for contemporary use. Enjoy the architecture, then return to the hotel and open a book. It is a simple, meaningful way to experience an autumn day in Tokyo at a slower pace.

Libraries Worth Traveling For

Exterior of Kanazawa Umimirai Library in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Japan has many libraries worth visiting for their architecture alone. One such example is Kanazawa Umimirai Library in Ishikawa Prefecture. Designed by Coelacanth K&H Architects, it is known for its luminous interior, where soft daylight filters through thousands of circular openings in the exterior walls. The building itself has become a destination for visitors to Kanazawa.

Tokyo also features cultural sites such as Musashino Place, a vibrant complex built around a public library, where the setting is as much a part of the experience as the books themselves. A library is more than just a place to borrow books. The light, the arrangement of the chairs, the placement of the shelves, and the traces of history in the building all help to set the mood before you begin to read.

If you are in Tokyo during autumn, consider starting the reading experience before you even turn a page by visiting a place designed primarily for books. In Ueno, the International Library of Children’s Literature is an especially rewarding place to begin.

From Odaiba to Ueno

The library preserves Meiji-era Renaissance architecture.

Located in Ueno Park, the International Library of Children’s Literature perfectly complements a visit to the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Western Art, or the Ueno Royal Museum. It also fits naturally into a day that includes Asakusa or Yanaka, offering a quiet interlude between some of Tokyo’s busier sights.

The Children’s Library features picture books and nonfiction for young readers.

Part of the National Diet Library, the International Library of Children’s Literature specializes in children’s books. Despite its name, adults will find much to enjoy here as well. Exhibits and reading spaces immerse visitors in children’s literature from Japan and around the world, while the building itself delights those interested in architecture, books, and history.

Admission is free, and English signage ensures the library is easy to navigate for international visitors. Step inside from the bustle of Ueno, and Tokyo’s pace seems to slow down almost immediately.

Where the Imperial Library Meets Tadao Ando

The historic exterior walls of the Imperial Library have been preserved alongside contemporary glass additions.

The architecture itself is one of the library’s main attractions.

The International Library of Children’s Literature partially opened in 2000 as Japan’s first national library dedicated to children’s literature. The current Brick Building dates back to 1906, originally built as the Imperial Library and expanded in 1929. The renovation preserved the building’s distinctive Meiji-era Renaissance architecture while adapting it for use as a modern library.

The grand staircase dates back to the building’s days as the Imperial Library.

Architect Tadao Ando participated in the renovation, and in 2015, a contemporary glass-and-steel addition known as the Arch Building opened alongside it. Historic brick walls, arched windows, and a stately staircase now share space with sleek modern elements. Two distinct styles harmoniously complement each other, a fusion of Meiji-era architecture and contemporary design.

Columns and ceilings dating from the Imperial Library era lend a sense of history to the reading rooms.

This is architecture that invites appreciation rather than demands attention. Notice the light on the staircase, the depth of the corridors, the rows of shelves, and the greenery of Ueno framed by the windows. Lower your voice, slow your pace, and you’ll notice the details gradually reveal themselves.

Before you ever open a book, the serene space puts you in the mood to read. That is part of the joys of spending time here.

For Book Lovers, Toyo Bunko Museum

The Siebold Garden at Toyo Bunko Museum.

If you wish to spend more time surrounded by books, proceed to Toyo Bunko Museum in Bunkyo.

Unlike the International Library of Children’s Literature, this is a ticketed museum rather than a public library. As a research library with an important collection devoted to the history and cultures of Asia, Toyo Bunko Museum offers the public access to part of its priceless display.

The Morrison Stacks at Toyo Bunko Museum.

For many visitors, the highlight is the Morrison Stacks, where books are stacked floor to ceiling along an entire wall. Standing before the towering shelves reminds you that books are more than just sources of information; they are physical objects that preserve history. The pleasure lies not only in viewing the collection, but also in the sensation of being surrounded by books.

If the International Library of Children’s Literature offers a quiet encounter with historic library architecture, Toyo Bunko Museum opens a broader window onto the world of books and scholars. It is a natural second stop for anyone who wants to linger in that world a little longer.

Returning to the Hotel and Opening a Book

After a day spent exploring libraries and spaces devoted to books, relax and unwind at the hotel. As you curl up with a book in your room at Hilton Tokyo Odaiba, images of light, grand staircases, and stacked shelves may still be vivid in your mind.

Reading can be a perfect way to unwind while traveling. After sightseeing, exploring the city, and taking photographs, a good book and a quiet room allow the day’s experiences to settle, gradually woven into your memory.

A day like this offers a refreshing way to experience autumn in Tokyo: Visit a place designed for books, then enjoy reading when you return. Instead of trying to fit as many destinations as possible into a single day, you move through the city at a more relaxed pace, with ample time to truly take it all in.