Having a place to be makes you want to go out. This is the best library in Japan!

(TOP image) Toshihiko Kato, SS Co., Ltd.

A world of art to visit, see and feel
File.8 Yamato City Cultural Creation Center Sirius
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)

When driving on the Tomei Expressway, there is a banner that catches your eye.
It is said to be "the best library in Japan."
I was persuaded by the exciting slogan and decided to go to Sirius, Yamato City's Cultural Creation Center.

The official name is Yamato City Cultural Creation Center.
A cultural complex centered around a library, arts and culture hall, lifelong learning center, and indoor children's playground.
Rather than writing it all like this, it would be more appropriate to call him by his nickname, "Sirius."
The facility, which just opened on November 3, 2016, has a very stylish exterior. It is conveniently located just a three-minute walk from Yamato Station, where the Sotetsu Main Line and Odakyu Enoshima Line intersect, so you might mistake it for a shopping mall.

Upon entering through the front entrance, you'll find a coffee shop and library space neatly arranged. The open-ceilinged floor is bright and airy, with mothers pushing strollers chatting away.
Is it a shopping mall after all?
Thinking this, I picked up a book nearby and noticed a classification sticker on it, so I realized, "Ah, this is definitely a library book."
The library's current collection of about 410,000 books is by no means large, but I'm slowly beginning to understand why it can be declared "the best library in Japan."

When I visited, there was a featured book on music, orchestras, etc., linked to information about concerts being held in the main hall on the weekend.
Such complex projects are planned by Yamato Mirai, the joint venture that manages Sirius. For example, if a rakugo performance is held in the hall, the library will feature related books, the lifelong learning center will hold a course to learn more about rakugo, and the indoor children's square will hold a "children's rakugo" event.
It's a wonderful initiative that has never been seen before.

This is the open shelf area on the second floor. On the other side of the atrium is a paid space that can be used as a second office.
Since the books are scattered across each floor, it may be difficult to find the book you are looking for. However, one of the joys of the library is discovering new books while wandering around. In fact, there are people wandering around with coffee in their hands... Yes, at Sirius, you can drink any drink anywhere.

The third floor is Yamato Children's Land.
The "Children's Library" is filled with picture books and Kamishibai (paper theater), and the bookshelves and chairs are all child-sized. The colorful materials make the adults who look at them feel happy, too.
*Photo: Toshihiko Kato, SS Corporation

The Genkikko Square in the back is a play area for parents and children aged 3 to 2nd grade. The playground is always crowded, even though it is a paid facility, as it has play equipment produced by the popular Bornelund that allows children to play actively.
The Healthy City Library on the 4th floor is an area unique to Sirius.
First, the shelves in the "Health Corner" display a wide range of health-related books that go beyond typical library classifications. In the "Health Terrace," various lectures on topics ranging from medical information to traditional games are held every day, and there is also a "Health Visualization Corner" equipped with a body composition scale and bone health measuring device. There are also exhibits related to disaster prevention, giving the impression that the theme of "health" is widespread.
What is surprising about Sirius is the number and variety of reading seats. There are 915 seats in total, ranging from counter tables perfect for studying to sofas where you can take a nap. This is what happens when you properly realize the concept of a "library where you can stay."
Whether you're a mother raising children or an elderly person living alone, you'll find it quite natural to find your place here.
*Photo: Toshihiko Kato, SS Corporation

The fifth floor has a reference desk where you can ask for advice on research materials, creating a library-like atmosphere. Perhaps because of the chic colors, even the way people stand and act is "library-like." Humans are strange creatures.

The sixth floor is the only floor without books. There are meeting rooms and other facilities available to the public. In the public exchange space "Plat Yamato," where you can also eat and drink, high school students were working on their homework with their friends while eating snacks.
Ahead of you is a terrace seat with a great view!
It's a little cold in the winter, but when it warms up I'd love to come here and relax and read a book with a cold drink.