Information for Visually Impaired Visitors

• 1. Library Support
• 2. User Guide
  • 2-1. Library Hours and Holidays
  • 2-2. Contact Us
  • 2-3. Transportation Guide
  • 2-4. Parking Lot
  • 2-5. Entrance
  • 2-6. Assistance Dogs
• 3. How to Use
  • 3-1. User Registration
  • 3-2. Leave Your Bags in a Locker
  • 3-3. Entering the NDL
  • 3-4. Use of the Reading Room for Persons with Disabilities
  • 3-5. Searching and Requesting Materials
  • 3-6. Confirming Arrival
  • 3-7. Receiving Materials at Pickup Location
  • 3-8. Using Library Materials
  • 3-9. Digitized Content and Databases
  • 3-10. Photoduplication Services
  • 3-11. Request Materials from Your Own Devices
  • 3-12. Returning Materials
  • 3-13. Exiting the NDL
• 4. Facilities
  • 4-1. Reading Room for Persons with Disabilities (Annex 2F)
  • 4-2. Restrooms
  • 4-3. Elevators
  • 4-4. Cafeteria and Coffee Shops
  • 4-5. Shop
  • 4-6. Support Tools for Reading
• 5. User Guide and Instructions for On-site Use
  • 5-1. User Guide
  • 5-2. Instructions for On-site Use

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 Tokyo Main Library is open from 9:30 to 19:00 Monday through Friday, but closes at 17:00 on Saturdays.

Please note that we close Sundays, national holidays, every third Wednesday and for the New Year's holidays. New Year's holidays are usually from 28 December to 4 January, although the closure dates change depending on the year.
The User Registration Counter is open from 9:00 to 18:30 Monday through Friday, but closes at 16:30 on Saturdays.

Requests for closed stack materials are available from 9:30 to 18:00 Monday through Friday, but close at 16:00 on Saturdays.

Requests for same-day photoduplication and printouts of electronic resources are available from 10:00 to 18:00 Monday through Friday, but close at 16:00 on Saturdays.

In addition, the Rare Books and Old Materials Room is open from 9:30 to 17:00 Monday through Saturday. Requests for same-day photoduplication and printouts of electronic resources are available from 10:00 to 16:50 Monday through Friday, and until 16:00 on Saturdays, the same time as in the other reading rooms.

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).

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 the Kokkai-gijidomae bus stop on the Toei Bus "橋(Hashi) 63" route [Shimbashi Station < > Otakibashi-Shako].

For directions from/to the stations and bus stops, which are readable by screen readers, please use the text file below.

When coming to the Tokyo Main Building from the nearest train stations and bus stops, it is recommended to use the entrances and exits listed in the detailed verbal directions.

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

The parking lot is available in front of the NDL 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. Braille blocks are laid in most areas between the nearest metro stations and bus stops and the entrance. There are no major steps from the parking lot, but there are areas where braille blocks have not been laid.

If this is your first visit to the NDL, please enter the Annex and register at the User Registration Counter. There are staff near the automatic doors at the entrance to help you with your requirements.

On weekdays (except Saturdays and every third Wednesday), 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.

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

For information on how to use the library, please refer to the On-site User Guide of the Tokyo Main Library page.

If you have any concerns using the library, please do not hesitate to ask us. The library staff will assist you with entry procedures, searching materials, and so on.

If you already have your own registered user card, there is no need to register on each visit. If you do not have a registered user card yet, user registration is required on your first visit. Please remember to bring identification documents such as your disability certificate and Individual Number Card (My Number Card). The staff will complete the registration process asking for the necessary information, and you will receive your registered user card.

Furthermore, persons who have difficulty reading printed materials can become registered users of the Data Transmission Service for Persons with Print Disabilities. Through this service, registered users can access data such as DAISY, braille data, and full-text data of the NDL Digital Collections via the internet.

For further information, please refer to the How to become a registered user of the Data Transmission Service for Persons with Print Disabilities page.

Bags and any other items larger than 17x25 cm are not allowed in the library. You must leave them in the lockers at the entrance. (A 100 yen coin is needed to use the locker, but the coin will be returned afterwards.)

Please use the transparent reusable bags provided in the locker room to carry your belongings into the building.

For umbrellas, please use the umbrella stand.

The entry procedure at the Entrance Counter is necessary to enter the library. The Main Building Entrance Counter is on the left-hand side of the Entrance gate. The Annex Building Entrance Counter is on the right-hand side of the Entrance gate. Please hand over your user card at the Entrance Counter, we will complete the entry procedure.

The staff will escort you to the Reading Room for Persons with Disabilities if you wish to use it.

In the reading room, you can use the Data for Persons with Print Disabilities such as DAISY, and machine-reading of internet screens or printed materials, as well as searching and requesting materials.

This room is also available for having your companion read library materials out loud. For further information, please refer to 4-1. Reading Room for Persons with Disabilities.

The Tokyo Main Library holds audio materials, braille materials, and large print books as well as books and periodicals mainly published in Japan. Because most of the holdings are in closed stacks, searching and requesting materials through NDL Search is needed. NDL Search can be accessed via terminals throughout the library.

There is also a terminal with screen readers installed in the Reading Room for Persons with Disabilities, referred to in 4-1.

If you wish to use the data for persons with print disabilities such as DAISY, braille data, or full-text data of the NDL Digital Collections, please ask us about using the Reading Room.

This data can also be accessed through Mina Search (NDL Materials Search for Persons with Disabilities) via the terminal with a speaker connected in the room.

Requested materials will arrive at the pickup location about 30 minutes after your request through the NDL Search.

You can confirm their arrival at any user terminal in the library.

Please present your user card at the pickup location to receive the materials.

The Book Counter is located in the Main Building and the Periodicals Counter in the Annex, both on the 2nd floor. If you have requested materials belonging to a Special Materials Room, please receive them at each room. For more information, please refer to the Special Materials Rooms & Reading Rooms page.

Materials received at the Book Counter and Periodicals Counter can be used at the reading desks in the library, while materials belonging to the Special Materials Rooms are supposed to be used in each room.

If you wish to have library materials read out loud by your companion, the Reading Room for Persons with Disabilities (refer to 4-1) is available.

Library materials cannot be taken outside the library.

Digitized materials, electronic journals and online databases are available via the library terminals.

If you prefer listening to text-based electronic journals or online databases by voice, you can also use the terminal with the speaker connected in the Reading Room for Persons with Disabilities.

For more information, please refer to the Electronic Resources Service at the Tokyo Main Library page.

NDL copying services are performed in accordance with the provisions of Japanese copyright law. The photocopying is carried out by specialist staff. Fees are charged for making photocopies. (Cash and electronic money cards are acceptable.)

The photocopying procedure is as follows.

Make requests for the materials you want to copy.

After picking up the materials, you can create photoduplication request forms via the library terminals.

Select "Same-day" from the menu, so that you will receive the copy on the same day.

Print out the photoduplication request form through a specific printer.

Fill out the photoduplication request form.

Insert bookmarks at the start and the end of the portion to be copied.

Apply at copying counters (Main Building 2F, Annex 1F).

For further information, please refer to the Photoduplication Service page.

Registered users can prepare in advance to request materials before visiting the library. After logging in to NDL Search on your own device, search for the materials you want to request and add them to your cart.

As soon as you enter the library, you can immediately request the materials you have added to your cart by logging in to NDL Search.

This can be done from your own device as well as from the library terminals.

You can also check the arrival of your materials and create photoduplication requests through your own device. However, digitized materials "Available only at the NDL", electronic journals and online databases can only be accessed via the library terminals.

Before leaving the library, please return the materials to the counter where you received them. When returning materials, please present your registered user card, as well.

The National Diet Library does not loan materials to individuals.

In case you have used the Reading Room for Persons with Disabilities, it would be helpful if you inform us you are leaving by using the phone equipped in the room. The staff will escort you to the entrance.

The exit procedure at the Entrance Counter is necessary to leave the library. The Main Building Entrance Counter is on the right-hand side of the Entrance gate. The Annex Entrance Counter is on the left-hand side of the Entrance gate. Please hand your user card over at the Entrance Counter, we will complete the exit procedure.

The Reading Room for Persons with Disabilities is located approximately 11 meters along the braille blocks after leaving the Entrance Gate of the Annex.

The reading room is equipped with a PC for persons with print disabilities which includes DAISY playback software, a screen reader, braille input software and braille display, as well as a reading and magnifying device that can read out and enlarge printed materials.The digital microreader is also available for viewing microfilm and microfiche.

You can also bring your own device for use. Power supply and free Wi-Fi service are available in the library.

Please ask at the Entrance Counter if you wish to use the reading room.

As there is only one reading room for persons with disabilities, priority is given to those who have reserved it in advance. Reservations can be made by telephone or other means one month before the date of use.

For more information, please contact us during library hours.

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

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

Restrooms are located on every floor of the Main Building and the Annex. There are no braille blocks to guide you to the restrooms. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to ask for assistance at any counter.

After leaving the Reading Room for Persons with Disabilities (Annex 2F), the women's restroom is located 8 meters away and the men's restroom is located 10 meters away.

There are two elevators side by side for both the Main Building and the Annex, which are equipped with braille signage and handrails.

We have audio announcements of the floor numbers, as well as of opening and closing of the doors in the elevators.

There is one cafeteria and two coffee shops in the library.

The cafeteria is on the sixth floor of the main building, and is open from 11:00 to 18:30, except on Wednesdays and Saturdays when it is only open until 15:00. Bringing your own lunch and eating is possible in the specified area of the cafeteria.

One of the coffee shops is on the third floor of the main building and is open from 11:00 to 16:00.

The other is on the 1st floor of the Annex, and is open from 11:00 to 15:30, with lunch served until 14:00. However, it is not open on the first, third or fifth Saturday of every month.

Visitors will not be allowed to take library materials into the cafeteria or the coffee shops. Please leave them in the lockers located in the library.

Because we strictly prohibit visitors to drink or eat, including gum or candy, in the reading space, please eat or drink only in the specified area of the cafeteria.

A shop selling food, stationery and daily necessities is on the 6th floor of the Main Building. It is open from 9:30 to 18:30 Monday through Friday, but closes at 17:00 on Saturdays.

The electronic magnifiers are available at the following locations.

The Business, Science and Technology Room, and the Humanities Room on the 2nd floor of the Main Building.

The Newspaper Reading Room on the 4th floor, and near the General Information Desk on the 2nd floor of the Annex.
Please feel free to use them.

electronic magnifier

Magnifying glasses are available at every counter in the library. Portable magnifiers are also available at the General Information Desks and the Entrance Counters for both the Main Building and the Annex. Please ask the staff at any counter whenever needed.

If you have difficulty seeing the text on the library terminals, the text on the screen can be enlarged and inverted to black and white.

Please ask at a counter whenever you would like to change the screen settings.

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

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