Accessibility for Visitors with Disabilities at the Tokyo Main Library

This page provides general information for visitors with disabilities to use the Tokyo Main Library. If you are visually impaired, please refer to the Information for Visually Impaired Visitors page, which is a detailed user guide readable by Screen Readers.

• 1. Library Hours and Holidays
• 2. Access
  • 2-1. Contact Us
  • 2-2. Transportation Guide
  • 2-3. Parking Lot
  • 2-4. Entrance
  • 2-5. Assistance Dogs
• 3. How to Use
• 4. Library Support
• 5. Special Materials Rooms
• 6. Floor Plan
• 7. User Guide and Instructions for On-site Use

Please refer to Library Hours and Holidays.

If you would like to listen to the opening days and hours by voice, please use the automated voice information service (Tel: +81-3-3506-3300).

Some services are available without visiting the Tokyo Main Library, via the internet or through a local library. For more information, please refer to Service for Persons with Disabilities.

Before visiting the library, we recommend that you confirm how to use the library (refer to 3. How to Use) and where the materials you would like to use are located.

If you have any questions or concerns about using the Tokyo Main Library, please do not hesitate to contact us during library hours before visiting.

Contact information
Service Administration Division
Reader Services and Collections Department
Tel: +81-3-3581-2331
Fax: +81-3-3581-2326

E-mail inquiries are accepted via the inquiry form on the National Diet Library website.

The nearest metro stations are Nagatacho Station on the Yurakucho Line, Hanzomon Line and Namboku Line, or Kokkai-gijidomae Station on the Chiyoda Line and Marunouchi Line. You can also use Kokkai-gijidomae bus stop on the Toei Bus "橋(Hashi) 63" route [Shimbashi Station < > Otakibashi-Shako].

For more details on access to the Tokyo Main Library, please visit the "Access" page.

Verbal Descriptions of Walking Directions

For detailed verbal directions from/to the nearest train stations and bus stops, please use the text files below. They are readable by screen readers and can be downloaded at the following links.

By Train

Tokyo Metro Nagatacho Station

• From Tokyo Metro Nagatacho Station, Exit 2 to the NDL
• From the NDL to Tokyo Metro Nagatacho Station, Exit 2

Tokyo Metro Kokkai-gijidomae Station

• From Tokyo Metro Kokkai-gijidomae Station, Exit 2 Elevator to the Ground Level to the NDL
• From the NDL to Tokyo Metro Kokkai-gijidomae Station, Exit 2 Elevator to the Ground Level

By Bus

Coming From/Returning to the Shimbashi Station Route

• From Kokkai-gijidomae bus stop on the Toei Bus "橋(Hashi) 63" Route bound for Otakibashi-Shako to the NDL
• From the NDL to Kokkai-gijidomae bus stop on the Toei Bus "橋(Hashi) 63" Route bound for Shimbashi Station

Coming From/Returning to the Otakibashi-Shako Route

• From Kokkai-gijidomae bus stop on the Toei Bus "橋(Hashi) 63" Route bound for Shimbashi Station to the NDL
• From the NDL to Kokkai-gijidomae bus stop on the Toei Bus "橋(Hashi) 63" Route bound for Otakibashi-Shako

Directions with Photos

For directions with photos to the NDL from Exit 5 of Tokyo Metro Nagatacho Station or Exit 2 of Kokkai-gijidomae Station, please see the following links.

Both exits have elevators to the ground level and you will find accessible ramps along the route.

• From Tokyo Metro Nagatacho Station, Exit 5 to the NDL (Directions with Photos)
• From Tokyo Metro Kokkai-gijidomae Station, Exit 2 to the NDL (Directions with Photos)

The parking lot is available in front of the visitors' entrance on the east side of the building, with two parking spaces allocated exclusively for persons with physical disabilities and those who accompany them. If those two parking spaces are full, other spaces can be used. Alternatively, you can also use the staff parking lot on the opposite side of the building (West Entrance), if there are available spaces. In that case, please inform the staff at the West Entrance reception desk.

* Parking is free of charge.

The visitors' entrances are on the eastern side, for both the Main Building and the Annex.

Before reaching the East Entrance, stairs or ramps must be ascended or descended from the metro station or bus stop. There are no major steps from the parking lot.

If this is your first visit to the NDL, please enter through the entrance of the Annex and register at the User Registration Counter. The Main Building and the Annex are linked by corridors.

On weekdays (except Saturdays and every third Wednesdays), persons with disabilities can also enter through the South Entrance directly facing the National Diet Building. In that case, please inform the staff at the South Entrance reception desk.

(See the Map of the National Diet Library for the entrance location.)

You can enter the library accompanied by guide dogs, mobility service dogs and hearing dogs.

For more information, please refer to On-site User Guide of the Tokyo Main Library.

User Registration

User registration is required to use materials stored in the closed stacks, which are most of the holdings of the NDL, and to request later date photoduplication service sent by mail. For more information, please refer to User Registration.
In addition, persons who have difficulty reading printed materials due to visual impairment or other reasons can register as users of the Data Transmission Service for Persons with Print Disabilities. For more information, please refer to How to become a registered user of the Data Transmission Service for Persons with Print Disabilities.

If you have any concerns about using the library, please do not hesitate to ask at any counter. The library staff will assist you with entry procedures, searching and requesting materials, requesting photocopies, etc. Necessary assistance is also provided for the use of the cafeteria (6th floor of the Main Building) and the coffee shops (3rd floor of the Main Building and 1st floor of the Annex).

The Reading Room for Persons with Disabilities is located near the entrance of the Annex. For further information on the terms of service and how to use the Reading Room, please refer to Information for Visually Impaired Visitors, Information for Visitors with Physical Disabilities and in Wheelchairs, or Information for Visitors Who Have Other Difficulties Using the Library.

There are special materials rooms available with some reference books and other materials on open shelves.

For more information, please refer to Special Materials Rooms & Reading Rooms.

Some of these rooms have tools to support reading for persons with various disabilities.

The layout of the 2nd floor of the Tokyo Main Building, where the visitors' entrances are located, is shown below. For other floors, refer to the Floor Layout page.

• National Diet Library Tokyo Main Library User Guide (PDF: 232KB)

• Instructions for On-site Use of the National Diet Library (PDF: 92KB)