As a passionate explorer and local guide, I like finding out about hidden interesting places that not many people know about. Every time I came across a place like that, I wished there could be a way to tell everyone about it. Thanks to Google Maps and Local Guides Connect, this is now possible.
One category of places that receives poor recognition in Egypt, unfortunately, is public libraries despite the fact that we do have a lot of them. I love public libraries especially those that offer activities and workshops. I love going to them, either to read, work, study, make art or even to think quietly and rationally about something and make a decision! My very favorite public library is the Japan Foundation Library in Cairo.
The library is a part of the Japan Foundation Office. While the office along with the library are in Cairo Center in Qasr al-Aini St, a very dynamic building in a very dynamic and vibrant street, once you step inside the library, you can hear nothing but the sound of your own thoughts!
It’s a small very neat and clean library with an incredibly large collection of books in either Japanese, Arabic or English. A section of the library is dedicated to Manga so you can find numerous Jump Magazine editions and very popular graphic novels that most of us are familiar with through their Anime. Besides that, you can also find study books for learning the Japanese language, dictionaries, novels, catalogs, magazines and many many other genres of books.
The library is open for all visitors for free. All the resources inside of it including the computers are also available for free. Yet, you can get an annual membership at a cost of 45 EGP that grants you borrowing books for two weeks. Sometimes, especially on Saturdays, the library offers workshops that teach things related to the Japanese culture such as origami workshops.
The library is open on weekdays from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm and closed on weekends which happen to be Friday and Saturday in Egypt and on national holidays as well.
If you are not that into books but still looking for a quiet place to work or study at, and happen to live in Cairo, you should definitely pay the Japan Foundation Library a visit.