This translation was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
Kitakyushu Children’s Library is a family-friendly reading stop in the Jonai area of Kokura. Its books and services are aimed at children and young people aged 18 and under. Picture books, reading spaces and a collection of picture books and maps from around the world make it worth considering for a quieter day with children.
Before you visit
- Open 9:30–19:00 on weekdays and 9:30–18:00 on weekends and Japanese public holidays.
- Closed on Mondays, or the following day when Monday is a public holiday, as well as inventory and year-end closures.
- Reading in the library and borrowing books are different: borrowing requires a library card and eligibility to register.
- The reading passbook is a separate service for children aged 18 and under who live in or attend school in Kitakyushu.
Location, opening hours and closures
The library opened on December 22, 2018, at the same address as Kitakyushu Central Library. JR Nishi-Kokura Station (西小倉駅) is one of the public-transport access points listed by the city. The building was designed by architect Arata Isozaki.
| Address | 4-1 Jonai, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu 北九州市小倉北区城内4番1号 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Weekdays 9:30–19:00; weekends and Japanese public holidays 9:30–18:00 |
| Closures | Mondays, or the following day if Monday is a public holiday; inventory days; December 29–January 3; special inventory periods. December 28, 2026 is also a closed Monday. |
| Telephone | 093-571-0011 |
There are closures beyond Mondays, including inventory days around the end of the month. Check the calendar for your exact date rather than assuming every other day is open.
Check the city’s library guide and event links
Who can borrow books?
Library-card registration is available to people who live, work or attend school in Kitakyushu, and to residents of designated nearby municipalities. Living outside Kitakyushu does not automatically exclude you, but a short sightseeing visit alone does not establish eligibility.
You need a document showing your address to register. Check the eligible municipalities and accepted documents in the official library user guide before going to the desk. A cardholder can borrow up to 10 books and magazines for two weeks.
Choose an amount your family can finish and note the return date. If the book you want is already on loan, ask staff about reservations or obtaining a copy from another municipal library.
The reading passbook is not a borrowing card
Two reading-passbook machines can print a record of borrowed books into a passbook. This service is for children aged 18 and under who live in or attend school in Kitakyushu; it is not a general souvenir service for visiting families.
A library card lets you borrow books; a reading passbook records them. A passbook is not issued automatically when a library card is made. Eligible children who want one should ask at the desk.
Visiting with children and joining events
The library has child-friendly reading spaces, an elevator and a baby-care station. The collection of picture books and maps from around the world may also interest families whose children do not read Japanese. This does not mean that every book or event is available in your language.
Ask staff if you need help finding books for a child’s age or interests. Story sessions and other events have their own age limits and registration requirements. Follow the event links from the city’s facility guide and check the listing for the day you want to attend.
Facility and borrowing information checked October 15, 2026.
