Shinagawa City Library Visit Your Local Library!

Shinagawa City has eleven libraries and one library facility. Shinagawa Library is the largest among them, and offers about 480,000 books and other items. There are around 4,400 foreign-language books on the third floor, and the children’s book corner on the second floor has about 800 foreign-language children’s books. There are foreign-language materials and picture books at Shinagawa Library and other libraries. You can also reserve books from these libraries and have them delivered to your local library.
Each library has a usage guide in English, Chinese and Korean, explaining how to use the library and the services. In addition, there is an interpreter tablet at Shinagawa Library, so even if you can’t speak Japanese you can use the library without difficulty.
Please feel free to visit and use your local library.

Inquiries: Shinagawa Library（2-32-3 Kita-Shinagawa, Tel: 03-3471-4667, Fax: 03-3740-4014）

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sundays and national holidays, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Closed: Fourth Monday of the month (Shinagawa, Ebara and Gotanda libraries); second Thursday of the month (Libraries other than Shinagawa, Ebara, Gotanda); year-end/New Year’s holidays, special maintenance days, and facility inspection days

A Section Featuring Universal Design Materials

This section on the second floor offers things that follow the concept of universal design, including tadoku* reading
materials (in English and Japanese), picture stories geared for the elderly, LL books** and audiobook CDs.

* “Tadoku” refers to a learning method that starts with simple materials and is designed so that readers can read
many books and understand as much as possible without having to use a dictionary. The library provides books suitable for each level of language.
** “LL books” are books written in an easy-to-understand style, and also use many illustrations, signs and photographs in a creative way so that anyone can read and appreciate them.

You need a library card issued to borrow and reserve books or materials. Please register at any of the libraries or the library facility. You’ll need a valid certificate issued by a public office that has your name, address, and date of birth written on it (such as a driver’s license, health insurance card, residence card, or special permanent resident certificate). You cannot use your passport to apply for a library card. Please visit the website for more information on how to use the library.
Shinagawa City Library website: https://library.city.shinagawa.tokyo.jp/

TOPICS Bring Your Kids to English-Language Storytelling Events! English-language storytelling events led by native speakers are held a few times a year at some libraries. You can enjoy songs, hand games, crafts and other games. The Shinagawa City Library website posts the dates and other details about these events.