Worth a Journey

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The World’s 100 Best Libraries

Gifu Media Cosmos

Gifu, Japan

  1. THE WORLD’S BEST LIBRARIES WORTH A JOURNEY · 2026 ✦ ✦ N° 53 2026
Gifu Media Cosmos

A municipal central library and multi-purpose complex beside Gifu City Hall, designed by Toyo Ito and opened in 2015. Inside, the second-floor library has a large wooden ceiling of domes and curved lattice, with reading and study seats beneath.

Highlights

  • Wooden dome ceiling
  • Second-floor central library
  • Terrace with Gifu Castle view

Good to know

  • Free entry, library card needed to borrow
  • Parking free for first two hours
  • Open until 9 PM

Also in Japan

  1. Ishikawa Prefectural Library N° 18 Ishikawa Prefectural Library Kanazawa Public library
  2. Yusuhara Community Library N° 37 Yusuhara Community Library Yusuhara Public library
  3. Nakajima Library N° 69 Nakajima Library Akita University library
  4. Takeo City Library N° 78 Takeo City Library Takeo Public library
  5. Toyama City Public Library N° 83 Toyama City Public Library Toyama Public library
  6. Miyakonojo City Library N° 84 Miyakonojo City Library Miyakonojo Public library