Hello, fellow travelers!
This is Gussan, your SaruKuma writer!

Today, I’m excited to introduce a wonderful spot in Jonan-machi, Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture:
【Kokorasu Amakusa Multipurpose Facility】

Freshly opened on April 1, 2020, this brand-new facility brings together what used to be scattered across the Hondo area: the Central Library, the Central Health & Welfare Center,
the Gender Equality Center, the Central Lifelong Learning Center, and the Hondo Community Center.
It’s a fantastic one-stop hub for health checkups, wellness consultations, classes, learning, and community exchange!
Built on the former site of Hondo Junior High School, the grounds are spacious and everything feels sparkling clean since it just opened!
The parking lot is roomy with plenty of space ♪
There’s even an EV charging station here!
And it looks like a mobile library service runs from here too ♪
Right by the entrance, you’ll find a return drop box for library books — super convenient!
Here’s the entrance to Kokorasu.

Step into the lobby, head up the stairs you’ll see straight ahead, and you’ll arrive at today’s main attraction — the library!
What an incredibly stylish library!!!!
I was honestly blown away — but unfortunately, photography inside the library is not allowed.
Of course, you’ll find rows upon rows of children’s books and specialized titles, plus
a cozy area where kids can take off their shoes and read picture books,
kid-sized restrooms, and a nursing room. It’s truly a wonderful library!
There’s also a chic café space,
in addition to rentable meeting rooms and
community exchange spaces perfect for casual meetups —
so there’s something here for just about every purpose!
From the second-floor library, you can step out onto an outdoor wooden deck.
The deck has plenty of covered benches, perfect for taking a relaxing break ♪
Below the deck lies a charming green space called “Ooraka-na Niwa” (Generous Garden), accessible by stairs!
Step out from the library and a wide-open space stretches before you.
On the day I visited, the lawn was still being cultivated and was off-limits, but
it has been open to the public since August 1, 2020!
Kids are sure to love it ♪
A walking path circles halfway around the lawn — kids were happily running around and playing here!

What We Recommend

Kokorasu also houses a child-rearing support center and child consultation services, so I highly recommend visiting beyond just the library ♪
There are vending machines available,
nursing rooms, and
diaper changing tables and baby chairs — every amenity a parent could hope for is here ♪

Facility Information

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.