Osaka's Family-Friendly Attraction: "Children's Book Forest"

🌟 A must-visit spot when traveling to Osaka with kids! The "Children's Book Forest" (こども本の森) is a children's library located in Nakanoshima, Osaka. Designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando, the building features his signature exposed concrete exterior, but the interior is surprisingly warm and cozy. 📚 The building is not very large, with only three floors. The bookshelves are filled with carefully selected picture books for children, resembling a forest that stretches upward with branches and leaves. The books are categorized into twelve themes, covering topics like nature, animals, food, travel, life, and death—subjects closely related to children's daily lives. Even adults might find themselves wanting to pick up a book and read! We even spotted a few books we had already purchased. 🍏 Inside the library, there are plenty of small tables and chairs for children to read. The large staircase between the second and third floors also serves as seating. At the entrance on the second floor, there's a green apple sculpture named "Eternal Youth," symbolically placed at the gateway to children's knowledge acquisition—quite meaningful. ⚠️ Note that visiting and reading at the library requires an online reservation in advance. On the day we visited, there was an event for people with disabilities, and due to a system error, we were still able to make a reservation. However, upon arrival, the staff informed us that even with a reservation, we couldn't enter. Fortunately, we arrived a bit early and managed to negotiate a brief visit before the event started, but we had to leave before it began. It was a bit disappointing, as the short ten-minute visit only allowed for a quick glance. Without restrictions, this would be a perfect place to spend an entire day reading with kids! 🛍️ Previously, I didn't particularly enjoy visiting Osaka, as my impression was that it mainly consisted of shopping malls. This time, we spent very little time shopping, focusing instead on buying souvenirs for relatives. Walking through the aisles filled with goods felt particularly overwhelming. 💸 While there are indeed many beautiful items, I often felt like I didn't want to miss anything, even though most of them were either unnecessary or not very useful. The process of choosing was mentally exhausting, leaving me conflicted and restless. Bringing kids into this consumer-driven world is something I strongly wish to avoid. 📖 So, if you're visiting Osaka with children, consider spending half a day at the "Children's Book Forest." Sit down together, read some books, admire the architecture, enjoy the view of the nearby river, and take a stroll through Nakanoshima Park. It's a rare opportunity to experience tranquility in this bustling metropolis. —— Nakanoshima Children's Book Forest 📆 Opening Hours: 9:30 AM–5:00 PM (Closed on Mondays) 📍 Address: 1-1-28 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka City (inside Nakanoshima Park) 🚃 Access: Next to Exit 3 of Naniwabashi Station on the Keihan Nakanoshima Line / Exit 1 of Yodoyabashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line and Keihan Main Line / Exit 26 of Kitahama Station on the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line and Keihan Main Line.