A 1936 Library Built by Donation
The Former Kamakura Library (旧鎌倉図書館, Kyū Kamakura Toshokan) is a two-storey timber library built in 1936 east of the city hall in Onari-machi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on August 15, 2024 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a two-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 163 square metres, renovated in 2023; registration number 14-0352, owned by Kamakura City.
Rebuilt Through a Gift
According to Kamakura City, rebuilding the town library destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 was beyond the town's means, but a donation from 間島愛子, carrying out the wishes of her husband 間島弟彦, allowed the Former Kamakura Library to be built in 1936. It opened that October as a facility of Kamakura town.
Kamakura City has recognised the Former Kamakura Library as a landscape-important building, noting that together with the old auditorium of Onari Elementary School on the same site, the kabuki-mon gate and the pavement in front, it forms a fine townscape.
Why It Was Registered
The Former Kamakura Library was registered as a structure that has become a model of design. The Agency for Cultural Affairs values it as a library with a simple blend of Japanese and Western design.
Kamakura City suggests that the gable boards with hanging ornaments (gegyo) at both ends may have been designed with the old school auditorium, built at about the same time, in mind.
What to Look For
The two-storey exterior has pilasters running through both floors and many tall windows. The base of the walls is clad in green-glazed scratch tiles, and a large gabled roof with gegyo ornaments covers the whole (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The staircase posts carry Art Deco details (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Kamakura City adds that the roof is framed with trusses and that the tiled roof sits on Western-style walls lined with tall sash windows.
Current Use and Visiting
To reuse the Former Kamakura Library as a children's facility, Kamakura City began earthquake-proofing work in 2018 and resumed it in 2021. Decayed posts, beams and sills were replaced with new timber, and the extension was placed behind the original building to respect the street view (Kamakura City).
The Kanagawa Shimbun reports that the renovated Former Kamakura Library is used as an after-school children's facility, Hokago Kamakurakko Onari. No information on public visits has been found, so the building is seen from the street. The address is 18-35 Onari-machi, Kamakura City.
Q&A
- When was the Former Kamakura Library built?
- In 1936; it was renovated in 2023 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Who paid for it?
- 間島愛子, carrying out the wishes of 間島弟彦 (Kamakura City).
- What are its exterior features?
- Two-storey pilasters, tall windows, green-glazed scratch tiles at the base and a large gabled roof with gegyo ornaments (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can I visit it?
- It is now an after-school children's facility, so it is seen from the street (Kanagawa Shimbun).
- When was it registered?
- On August 15, 2024.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Kamakura Library (旧鎌倉図書館) |
|---|---|
| Location | 18-35 Onari-machi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2024/08/15 (Reiwa 6) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, two storeys, tiled roof, building area 163 square metres |
| Owner | Kamakura City |
| Public Access | In use as a children's facility (exterior viewing) |
References
- Former Kamakura Library (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00015007
- Landscape-important buildings (Kamakura City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/keikan/documents/sonota-kenzoubutsu1.pdf
- Outline of the earthquake-proofing and extension work (Kamakura City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/pre_iji/documents/hp_onari_kojigaiyou202204.pdf
- Former library renovated (Kanagawa Shimbun, Japanese)
- https://www.kanaloco.jp/news/life/article-977024.html
Last verified: 2026.10.14