Seikadō Bunko Library
Seikadō Bunko Library, Private library in Okamoto, Japan
Description
The Seikadō Bunko Library is a private library in Okamoto, Japan, housed in a Western-style building that holds over 200,000 books and 6,500 East Asian artifacts. The structure features multiple rooms with high ceilings and large windows, while the interior displays classic wooden shelving and quiet reading halls.
History
The collection began in 1892 through the initiative of Yanosuke and Koyata Iwasaki from the Mitsubishi family, who wanted to create a private cultural repository. The current Western-style building went up in 1924 following designs by Sakurai Kotaro, replacing an earlier structure.
Culture
The name combines Sei from a Chinese classic with ka referring to the scent of flowering plants, tying the library to its garden setting. Visitors today sense the quiet character of the site, which feels less like a museum and more like a collection space rooted in scholarly tradition.
Practical
The gallery section moved to Meiji Seimei Kan near Tokyo Station in October 2022, while the main library continues to operate from its original site in Okamoto. Visitors interested in both locations should plan for separate journeys between the two sites.
Did you know?
The southern slope hosts plum trees that flower in early spring, while sweet osmanthus shrubs near the entrance release a honeyed scent in autumn. Both plants were chosen deliberately to bridge the space between nature and scholarship.
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