Can I donate or take books from the library?

Yes. Visitors can donate books to the collection. The library operates as a collaborative project where contributions from visitors and residents continuously expand the holdings.

What else can I see on Ogijima during my visit?

The island has multiple art installations from the Setouchi Triennale, a notable cat population, and traditional narrow streets. The island has fewer than 200 residents and can be explored on foot in a few hours.

How big is Ogijima island and how long does it take to explore?

Ogijima is one of the smaller inhabited islands in the Seto Inland Sea with a population of fewer than 200 residents. The island can be explored on foot in approximately 2-3 hours, depending on your pace and how many art installations you visit.

Are there other facilities or services on Ogijima?

Ogijima has basic facilities including a port, small shops, and cafes, though options are limited due to the island's size and small population. Visitors should bring essentials like water and plan meals in advance, particularly outside festival periods when some establishments may have irregular hours.

Is Ogijima Library wheelchair accessible?

No. The library's hillside location and Ogijima's steep, narrow pathways make wheelchair access difficult. The building is a converted government structure without modern accessibility features.

Ogijima Library

4.7 (43)LibraryPoint Of InterestEstablishment

Ogijima Library is a distinctive community library located on Ogijima, a small island in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. The library was established as part of the Setouchi Triennale art festival in 2013, transforming a former government building into a cultural space that blends contemporary art with traditional island life. Designed by architects Toshiyuki Osumi and TEAM ONDO, the library features over 200 books donated by visitors and residents, creating an evolving collection that reflects the island's connection to the wider world.

The library serves as both a functional reading space and an art installation, embodying the Setouchi Triennale's mission to revitalize Japan's depopulating islands through creative engagement. Its walls are adorned with text in multiple languages, representing the diverse origins of donated books. The intimate space encourages visitors to contribute their own books, making it a collaborative project that continues to grow. The library has become a symbol of Ogijima's cultural renaissance and its openness to international exchange.

Visitors can browse the collection, leave books, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere while taking in views of the surrounding island landscape. The library's compact size reflects Ogijima's character as one of the Seto Inland Sea's smaller inhabited islands, with a population of fewer than 200 residents. Many visitors combine their library visit with exploring the island's narrow streets, cat population, and other art installations scattered throughout the community.

Ogijima is accessible by ferry from Takamatsu Port on Shikoku, with regular departures taking approximately 40 minutes. Ferries dock at Ogijima's small port, from which the library is reachable on foot through the island's hillside pathways. The library offers free admission and welcomes visitors during daylight hours.

What other travelers are saying about Ogijima Library

今回で何回目の訪問になるのか、正直もう覚えていません（笑）。それくらい、男木島を訪れるたびに必ず立ち寄ってしまうお店です。店内にはさまざまな本が並んでいて、いつも時間を忘れて読ませていただいています。静かな空間の中でページをめくっていると、不思議と心が落ち着き、今回もすっかり“ほっこり”させてもらいました。特別なことをしなくても、ただそこにいるだけで満たされる場所。男木島に来たら、ここに寄らずには帰れません。また島を訪れる機会があれば、きっと自然と足が向いてしまうと思います。次回の再訪も、今から楽しみです。

食の走り書き

2026/01/21

瀬戸芸期間に訪れました。中はこじんまりとしていますが、緩やかな時間が流れており、寛げる空間になっていました。その時カフェスタッフを担当していた学生さんが物静かな方で必要最低限にしか会話しないのも場所にあっていてよかったです。たまたまかもしれませんが空いていましたし、コーヒーを飲んでゆったりできたのでいい休憩時となりました。

「高松市：男木島図書館」 2024年9月に訪問しました。残念ながらオープンしていませんでしたが雰囲気の良さはわかりました。またいつか入ってみたいです。男木島図書館は「特定非営利活動法人男木島図書館」にて運営されている私設図書館です。図書館は寄付で運営されており、基本無料で利用できます。男木島・女木島・大島在住の方はハードカバー、文庫本どちらも借りられますが、島外の方は文庫本のみの貸出しです。なお、貸出しは無料ですが、最初に会員カード作成の実費100円がかかります。貸出し期間は1ヶ月です。借りてみたいです。

４月２０日に久しぶりに寄ってみました。オーナーさんは不在でしたが香川大学の学生さんが中でカフェをやっていました。本を読んで、カフェオレを飲んで、フェリーが来るまでの時間をここで過ごすのは大いにありです。私はここで写真集を見ることが多いです。文字を見るより写真を見るのが好きなんです。

カフェ、図書館。ゆったりできる。真夏の暑い時期に心地よい弱冷房で体に優しい。「フレッシュ苺のシャーベット」は、苺はシャキシャキわ下部のパンナコッタは濃厚で最高。量は多くはないが満足度は高い、これで600円は（観光地としては）かなり良心的。移住の相談もできるらしい。

Ogijima Library

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What other travelers are saying about Ogijima Library

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