The Library

図書室

Japan House London is reopening on Thursday 3 December. In the run up to the festive season, our opening hours will be extended as follows:

Monday – Wednesday: 11:00-19:00
Thursday – Saturday: 11:00-21:00
Sunday & Bank Holidays: 12:00-18:00

(Office hours are 9:00-18:00, Monday to Friday; closed on public holidays)

*The Library will reopen from Thursday 3 December.

Rediscover the pleasures of reading at Japan House London's Library through our changing exhibitions and permanent collection.

The Library is accessible and free to visitors seven days a week during Japan House opening hours. Visitors are welcome to take a seat and become engrossed in an eclectic range of volumes on Japanese culture and innovation, that are often hard to find elsewhere in the UK.

Visiting The Library

From 3 December, we are delighted to invite guests back to The Library at Japan House London. All guests wishing to visit The Library are asked to pre-book their free visit through our online booking system. A limited number of entry tickets are available each day.

Tier 2 COVID-19 restrictions apply in London. Japan House London is a COVID-19 secure venue, which means that we can continue to operate in line with the UK Government guidance. Our guests are politely reminded that they may only visit with members of their own household or support bubble. Please visit our COVID-19 webpage for more information about the measures we have implemented to ensure your safety.

Please choose your date and time:

Library entry 3 - 6 Dec

Library entry 7 - 13 Dec

Tickets for the following fortnight will be released on Fridays.

To ensure your visit to The Library is as safe and enjoyable as possible, please follow these visitor procedures:

Please keep a minimum 2-metre distance from other guests and members of staff at all times.
In line with the UK Government guidelines, guests (aged 11 and over) are required to wear a face covering when visiting Japan House and The Library. Access without a face covering will only be granted for those who are exempt from wearing one (find out more about face coverings on the UK Government website).
Please wear disposable gloves while browsing The Library.
Please note that access to The Library will not grant access to our ongoing exhibition, Architecture for Dogs. Tickets for the exhibition must be booked separately.
Only two visitors are allowed access to The Library at any one time.
The maximum allowed stay in The Library is 2 hours per visitor.

Our Library exhibitions

The Library at Japan House London hosts changing book exhibitions throughout the year. Different types of books, including literature, art, and non-fiction, are brought together in fresh ways to explore a variety of themes, from LGBT+: diversity in manga to celebrate Pride London and Designing Murakami Haruki, to mingei ('folk arts' movement) and Japanese food. Both English and Japanese language texts are available for visitors to discover more.

Curating these exhibitions is Haba Yoshitaka, a specialist in the emerging field of 'book curation' who offers fresh opportunities for readers to experience and appreciate books as cultural objects in their own right. Read more about Haba below.

LGBTQ+: Diversity in Manga Display in the Library at Japan House London

Our permanent collection

Accompanying these rotating themed displays is Japan House London’s permanent library collection. This collection is built of rare titles that are otherwise difficult to find in the UK. Visit to learn more about a wide range of subjects in Japanese culture and innovation, ranging from architecture, gardening, and aesthetics, to ancient poetry and contemporary manga.

Haba Yoshitaka

Haba Yoshitaka is a Book Director and representative of BACH, as well as an associate lecturer at Waseda University and Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music. To create better access for people to discover books, Haba produces displays for shop floors, library displays and reading areas that connect bookstores and different industries. Helping to champion paper books in today's increasingly digitalized era, Haba has created specialized book areas in hospitals, nurseries and even zoos in Japan.

His recent works include Wacoal Study Hall Kyoto (a venue that comprises a school, library, gallery and co-working space), ISETAN The Japan Store Kuala Lumpur and Japan House São Paulo. Haba is a book connoisseur, his love of books goes beyond book curation to include writing and editing.

Haba Yoshitaka - 幅允孝 - Book Curator

The Library: a venue

The Library is free and accessible during Japan House London’s opening hours. From time to time, the space is closed for private events – please check any amended opening hours on this page or via our Visit page. New library exhibitions are announced in our What’s On pages of the website and in our eNewsletter. This space can also be hired for private events.