International Library of Children's Literature

In short

The International Library of Children's Literature is a national library specializing in children's books from Japan and overseas. Its Brick Building was constructed in 1906 as the Imperial Library and was acclaimed as the finest library architecture in the Orient. Preserving this Meiji-era structure through a renovation involving architect Ando Tadao, the facility fully opened in 2002.

• ​Grand Staircase​​: An open atrium spanning from the 1st to the 3rd floor. The chandelier, zelkova doors, and handrails have been in continuous use since the building's founding over 100 years ago.
• ​Museum of Books​​: A 3rd-floor room that once served as the Imperial Library's general reading room. It features a ceiling height of about 9 meters and plaster relief decorations on the ceiling and walls.
• ​Arch Building and Courtyard​​: An arch-shaped building completed in 2015, designed with the image of turning pages of a book. Together with the Brick Building, it surrounds the central courtyard.

History and Highlights

The ​International Library of Children's Literature​ is a national library specializing in children's books from Japan and abroad. The Brick Building was originally erected in 1906 (Meiji 39) as the Imperial Library. Kuru Masamichi and Mamizu Hideo of the Ministry of Education designed it with the goal of creating the "finest library in the Orient," with Mamizu basing the initial concept on the Newberry Library in Chicago. Although only one-fourth of the overall planned scale was opened, it was hailed as the foremost library architecture in the Orient. Even after an expansion in 1929, national financial difficulties prevented it from being completed as originally planned.

Affectionately known as "Ueno Library," it was visited by many authors and literary figures. Because the reading room operated under a fixed-capacity system, users who could not fit inside formed lines outside and waited.

After World War II, it became the Ueno Branch of the National Diet Library. Following a comprehensive renovation, it opened in 2000 as the nation's first national library dedicated to children's books and celebrated its full opening in 2002. Architect Ando Tadao participated in the renovation, adding extensions designed with the concept of two glass boxes penetrating the existing structure. Incorporating seismic isolation construction methods, buildings from three eras—Meiji, Showa, and Heisei—became integrated into a single whole. In 2015, the curved Arch Building, evoking the image of flipping book pages, was completed, surrounding the courtyard alongside the Brick Building. The Brick Building has been selected as one of Tokyo's Historic Buildings.

Highlights for Viewing and Experiencing

• ​Grand Staircase​​: A staircase with an open atrium connecting the 1st to the 3rd floors. The chandelier, zelkova doors, and intricately designed handrails have been preserved and used since the building's founding. The door plate is inscribed with the characters "おす登あく" (osu to aku, meaning "push to open").
• ​Museum of Books and Lounge​​: The Museum of Books on the 3rd floor was once the general reading room; it features a ceiling roughly 9 meters high and plaster decorations on the ceiling and walls. To the left of the side-by-side doors, visitors can see red bricks from over 100 years ago—the only spot inside the building where this is visible. In the lounge, visitors can view up close the decorative facing bricks of what was originally the exterior wall facing the courtyard.
• ​Meet the World​​: Located on the 1st floor of the Brick Building, this room served as the Imperial Library's VIP room. The original interior has been preserved as much as possible, including kote-e plaster relief work on the ceiling and parquet flooring.

Travel Tips

It is a 10-minute walk from the Park Exit of JR Ueno Station. From Exit 7 of Tokyo Metro Ueno Station, it is a 15-minute walk. If using Taito City's "Tozai Megurin" loop bus, get off at "Former Tokyo Music School Sogakudo" and walk for 2 minutes.

Guided tours introducing the architectural features and various rooms are held. Visitors are generally asked to refrain from taking photographs in each room. The Former Tokyo Music School Sogakudo is located about 180 meters south-southwest.