Dear valued users,
Due to malfunction of the security system of our premises, we are not able to open the front door. We are not certain about the staring time of our Saturday service.
We’ll update this section as soon as any progress is confirmed.
August 12, 9:45am
Temporary Closure on Month Day (Sat)
Due to unforeseen circumstances, The Japan Foundation, Sydney is closed on Month Day (Sat). Our library return chute is still available between 8am and 8pm. Any library loan items due on the day will be extended to Month Day (Sat).
Updated Conditions of Entry from February 25
Visitors to The Japan Foundation, Sydney are no longer required to wear a face mask, in line with public health measures announced by the NSW Government. However, masks are encouraged in settings where physical distancing is not possible and may be required for special events. Before visiting us, please read our updated conditions of entry here.
New Saturday opening hours from April 2
From April 2, Saturday opening hours of The Japan Foundation, Sydney will be from 11am to 4pm. Incoming telephone calls may not be answered outside of opening hours. Saturday opening hours are also subject to change at short notice. Before visiting, please check the JPF Sydney website for any latest updates.
Our COVID-19 and visitor safety information can be found here.
Updated Conditions of Entry from May 17
All visitors are required to check in at the service counter upon arrival. Some modified conditions of entry and services are still in place for the health and safety of our guests and staff. In the event that our maximum visitor capacity is reached, you may be asked to come back later or shorten your visit so that others may enter.
We may ask visitors to wear a face mask in the event that a large number of people gather at any one time, including but not limited to: talk events, workshops, and group gallery visits.
Updated Conditions of Entry from February 13
All visitors are required to check in at the service counter upon arrival. Some modified conditions of entry and services are still in place for the health and safety of our guests and staff. In the event that our maximum visitor capacity is reached, you may be asked to come back later or shorten your visit so that others may enter.
We may ask visitors to wear a face mask in the event that a large number of people gather at any one time, including but not limited to: talk events, workshops, and group gallery visits.
(♦ hidden block) Temporary closure on August 20 (Sat), August 27 (Sat)
Our entire premises (library and gallery) will be closed on the dates above. The library return chute is still available 8am to 8pm.
当センター（図書館と展示ギャラリー）は、8月20・27日の両土曜日が臨時休館となります。図書館時間外返却ポストは午前8時～午後8時の間ご使用になれます。
Come and visit our library which boasts over 19,000 Japan-related items. Our collection features a range of material including fiction, non-fiction, manga, DVDs, music CDs and extensive language resources.
(Until December 16) Your loan quota has increased for your holiday reading
The terms and conditions of the library loan services are temporarily altered as follows:
- Free Card: Maximum of 7 items.
- Paid Member: Maximum of 15 items.
- The due date is set on January 31, 2024 for both Free Card and Paid Member.
We have adapted our Tadoku (extensive reading) session for primary and high schools children who speak Japanese at home. We also provide a guidance session for parents to support their kids’ self-reading.
Bookings essential.
Our storytime event is back! Bring your children for a fun session of storytelling and craft-making at our library. The featured theme is Setsubun (Japanese winter’s end ceremony). Also included in the session will be a mamemaki (bean-throwing) activity to drive evils out of your home before the new season starts.
Bring your children to enjoy some storytelling. We will feature Hina Matsuri (doll festival) in our storytime and display our seven-tier doll set. We will also be making Tsurushi-bina (a mobile with Hina Matsuri and lucky charm features) for you to take home!
Bring your children to enjoy some storytelling. We will feature Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day) in our storytime and display a full body samurai armour replica. We will also be making mini koinobori (carp streamers) for you to take home!
Bring your children for a fun session of storytelling and craft-making at our library. We will feature Tanabata (star festival) in our stories and let’s make a wish upon the stars by writing on a colourful paper strip and decorating bamboo branches with various ornaments.
Bring your children for a fun session of storytelling and craft-making at our library. We will feature Otsukimi (the harvest moon viewing) in our stories and craft to deepen the knowledge on this folk custom in Japan.
Bring your children for a fun session of storytelling and craft-making in Japanese at our library. We will feature Halloween in our stories and craft this time, but Japanese yōkai monsters and ghosts may appear in the features!
Bring your children for a fun session of storytelling and craft-making at our library. We will feature Japanese year-end and New Year celebrations in our program. Also included are cultural activities such as traditional games and water calligraphy.
We have scheduled the sessions up to April.
Our tadoku collection is constantly growing to supply interesting reading materials to learners from all levels.
Bookings essential.
Hina Dolls Display at the Library (until the end of March)
On the 3rd day of March, families in Japan celebrate their pride in their daughters by displaying an elegant doll set. The figurines represent the Emperor and Empress, and bigger sets also include the Imperial court attendants and luxurious possessions. Please don’t miss this rare opportunity of viewing the authentic seven-tier doll set outside Japan.
Come and try some special new year activities. Grab an omikuji (fortune slip) and write a new year’s resolution on an ema (small wooden plaque) and tie it up to display on our tree. We also hold two gaming sessions on the day; hyakunin isshu (100 poets cards) in the morning and ozashiki asobi (party games) in the afternoon.
Celebrate Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day) with us as we combine two objects characteristic of the day, kabuto (samurai battle helmets) and koinobori (carp streamers), as part of a fun artistic project.
Samurai Armour Display (until May 31, Sat)
On show in our foyer is a life-size, full body samurai armour replica. Predominantly finished in black, with a fierce looking faceplate, our gusoku style armour will be sternly greeting visitors during May. Positioned in a seated pose, the top of the helmet reaches a height of 160cm. Photos are absolutely permitted.
On the evening of July 7, the two lovers who were separated by an emperor of the galaxy are allowed to cross Milky Way for their reunion, but they have to put off their reunion for another year if it rans… Let us celebrate this romatic story by writing poems or special wishes on colourful paper strips called tanzaku. Tanzaku and calligraphy pens are provided.
Japanese children’s story books that have been recommended for translation to other languages. The books selected here are of interest to children aged 5 to 12, and learners of Japanese. Each catalogue record contains a link to the book review page, in English, to help learners choose a book for their personal interest.
We have hand picked a fun list of library books in English, curated to help you and your children learn more about Japanese history and culture.
We also recommend this to parent to assist in their children’s learning and homework.
Kid’s Reward Card
Receive one stamp for each of the following (once per day):
• Borrow one or more kid’s items
• Participate in a library mini event
Please note: Lost cards will not be replaced. For use by kids (grade 6 or less).
Suspension of newspaper and some magazine subscriptions
Due to restricted funding, the subscription of the following newspapers and magazines will discontinue at the end of March 2022. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our valued users.
- Nihon Keizai Shinbun
- The Japan Times
- Aera
- Juniaera
- Nihongogaku
- Outdoor Japan traveler
As an alternate source of information, we would like to introduce PressReader, an e-magazines and e-newspaper platform that is available to NSW residents.
Please click here to download the instructions (PDF).
