Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kikuyo Town and Ozu Town each run their own public library, and a card from one does not always work at another. This guide compares who can get a card at each, how you apply, and what each one says about books in other languages.
In short
- A Kumamoto City Library card does not work at Kumamoto Prefectural Library; you need a separate card for each (section 1).
- Kikuyo Town residents cannot get a Kumamoto City Library card unless they work or study in the city, and Kumamoto City residents cannot get a Kikuyo Town Library card (section 1).
- Bring ID that shows your name and address. All four libraries list the residence card (在留カード) as an example (section 3).
- After the July 2026 earthquake, Kumamoto City Library reopened on August 4 and the Prefectural Library fully reopened on August 14 (section 2).
Checked with official pages on 27 September 2026.
1. Which library can I use?
| Library | Who can get a card | Foreign-language books | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kumamoto City Library | Live, work or study in Kumamoto City, or live in one of 20 municipalities with a lending agreement (including Ozu and Mashiki, not Kikuyo or Koshi) | Books donated from Taiwan, mostly in Traditional Chinese, since Feb 10, 2026 (shelf Z7) | 096-363-4522 |
| Kumamoto Prefectural Library | Live, work or study in Kumamoto Prefecture | A section for foreign books in the 1st Reading Room; languages not stated | 096-384-5000 |
| Kikuyo Town Library | Live, work or study in Kikuyo Town, or live in Kikuchi, Koshi or Ozu and hold your home library’s card | Not stated | 096-232-0404 |
| Ozu Town Library | Live in Ozu Town or 8 other listed municipalities (including Kikuyo Town and Kumamoto City), or work or study in Ozu Town | 159 picture books donated from a school in Kaohsiung, Taiwan; tablets for translation, for use inside the library | 096-294-8011 |
Reading inside is free without a card at Kumamoto City Library, the Prefectural Library and Ozu Town Library; you need a card only to borrow. A card from one of these libraries does not automatically work at the others, so check the table for the library near where you live, work or study.
2. The libraries, one by one
2.1 Kumamoto City Library
Kumamoto City Library (熊本市立図書館) is in Oe, Chuo Ward. One card also works at the other city libraries, community-center reading rooms, and the mobile library. The library reopened on August 4, 2026 after the July 28, 2026 earthquake, and parts of the building may not be usable; check the library’s website before you visit. Books donated from Taiwan, mostly in Traditional Chinese (the library calls them 台湾語の書籍), are on shelf Z7 near the indoor stairs by the main entrance. Babies can have a card, and a parent can apply for a child of junior high school age or younger.
Address: 6-1-74 Oe, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto 862-0971 · Google Maps · Phone: 096-363-4522
A Kumamoto City TV program from March 2020 (in Japanese) about Kumamoto City Library; it was made before the July 2026 earthquake.
2.2 Kumamoto Prefectural Library
Kumamoto Prefectural Library (熊本県立図書館) is run by Kumamoto Prefecture, not by Kumamoto City. It closed after the July 28 earthquake and fully reopened on August 14, 2026. It shares its building in Izumi, Chuo Ward with the Kumamoto Museum of Literature and History. A Kumamoto City Library card does not work here — you need a separate card from the prefectural library, even though the two buildings are in the same ward. The 1st Reading Room (2nd floor) has a section for foreign books, though the library’s own pages do not name which languages.
Address: 2-5-1 Izumi, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto 862-8612 · Google Maps · Phone: 096-384-5000
2.3 Kikuyo Town Library
Kikuyo Town Library (菊陽町図書館) is beside Kikuyo Suginamiki Park (菊陽杉並木公園) in Haramizu. According to the library’s usage guide, you can get a card if you live in Kikuyo Town, work or study there, or live in Kikuchi City, Koshi City or Ozu Town and hold your own town’s library card. Kumamoto City residents are not on the list. To apply, fill in the card application form at the counter and show ID such as your residence card. The library has a usage guide in English on its website, and Kikuyo Town’s living guide, published in Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese, also explains the library. The town says the library hall is closed for now after the earthquake.
Address: 1438-1 Haramizu, Kikuyo Town, Kikuchi District, Kumamoto 869-1102 · Google Maps · Phone: 096-232-0404
2.4 Ozu Town Library
Ozu Town Library (大津町立おおづ図書館) lends books, magazines, CDs and DVDs, and residents of Ozu Town can also borrow a board game. You can get a card if you live in Ozu Town or in one of eight other listed municipalities, including Kikuyo Town and Kumamoto City, or if you work or study in Ozu Town. To get a card, bring an official document that shows your name and address, such as a My Number Card, driving licence or residence card. Mail with your address on it is not accepted. People who work or study in the town also bring proof of that. The library has 159 picture books donated from a school in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and lends tablets inside the library so that you can use their translation function with foreign-language books. The mobile library van Mirai-go (みらい号) visits places in the town every two weeks.
Address: 1171 Oaza Ozu, Ozu Town, Kikuchi District, Kumamoto 869-1233 · Google Maps · Phone: 096-294-8011
3. How do I get a library card?
- Choose a library you qualify for from section 1, and open its section above.
- Bring ID that shows your name and address. All four libraries list the residence card (在留カード) as an example of accepted ID. Ozu Town Library does not accept mail as proof of address. Kumamoto Prefectural Library no longer accepts expired health insurance cards as ID; it says a disaster certificate (罹災証明書) may be accepted for people affected by the earthquake.
- At the counter of Kumamoto City Library or Kumamoto Prefectural Library, apply and receive your card the same day. Kumamoto City Library says this takes about 15 minutes.
- Online, at either of those two libraries, register through “おうちで利用者登録” and send a photo of your ID. At Kumamoto City Library this usually takes 3 days to a week, longer when many people apply. The Prefectural Library takes 3 to 7 opening days and sends a card number by email; it posts the card itself if you ask.
- At Kikuyo Town Library, fill in the card application form at the counter. At Ozu Town Library, ask at the counter.
4. Can I get help in English?
None of the four libraries states whether staff at the counter can help you in English; ask before you go. Kumamoto Prefectural Library has a user guide in English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean and French covering hours, access, the floor map and the library card. Kumamoto City Library and Kikuyo Town Library also have an English user guide on their websites. Ozu Town Library’s website links to machine translation only.
5. Common questions
Can I read books without a library card?
Yes, at Kumamoto City Library, Kumamoto Prefectural Library and Ozu Town Library, which all say you can read inside without a card. Kikuyo Town’s living guide says Kikuyo Town Library is open to everyone.
Does my Kumamoto City Library card work at the Prefectural Library?
No. The prefectural library’s own page says a Kumamoto City Library card does not work there, and you need a separate card issued by the prefectural library.
Are there books in English?
None of the four says it has an English section. Kumamoto Prefectural Library’s English guide mentions “a section for foreign books” without naming the languages. Kumamoto City Library has a shelf of books from Taiwan, mostly in Traditional Chinese, and Ozu Town Library has picture books from Taiwan. Ask at the counter.
Who can get a card at Ozu Town Library if I don’t live in Ozu?
Residents of eight other municipalities can, according to the library’s page: Kikuyo Town, Koshi City, Kikuchi City, Nishihara Village, Minamiaso Village, Aso City, Mashiki Town and Kumamoto City. People who work or study in Ozu Town can also get one.
Can I use my residence card as ID to get a library card?
Yes. All four list the residence card (在留カード) as an example of ID you can bring.
Sources (checked September 2026)
- Kumamoto City Library, its English guide and lending agreements with nearby municipalities
- Kumamoto Prefectural Library and its English user guide
- Kikuyo Town Library: usage guide and Kikuyo Town’s living guide (せいかつがいど)
- Ozu Town Library: basic information, Ozu Town’s library guide and picture books from Taiwan
