1. What is Miraini?

Located close to Sakata Station, Miraini is an activity hub complex where various municipal facilities gather. It aims to be “A place to learn and grow,” “A place to interact,” “A place to disseminate information,” and “A place to raise children.”

It is open to not only locals but also tourists.

The name “Miraini” comes from the positive feeling of sending out messages from Sakata towards the future, and moving forward with eyes fixed on the future, as well as with a sense of expectation for it.

Miraini’s basic philosophy is to be an “Arena of Knowledge.”

It aims to be “a place for everyone where people, things and events come together, diverse communications are generated, and intellectual curiosity is stimulated.”

This time, we will introduce the Central Library and Tourist Information Center, which make up a large part of Miraini.

2. Three amazing things about Sakata City Central Library!

The first place we would like to introduce is the Sakata City Central Library, where approximately 20,000 to 30,000 books are loaned out each month.

Not only can you borrow books here, but visitors can also spend their time here in a way that suits their needs.

This time, we’d like to introduce three features of the library that we think are particularly amazing.

① Multipurpose use

Miraini has approximately 340 seats inside the building, and can be used for a variety of purposes to meet the needs of visitors, including reading books and magazines, studying, working on a computer, holding conferences, and other activities.

Engawa Lounge

This is the Engawa Lounge on the first floor.

The bright sunlight pours in and the seats feel like a veranda, which mysteriously makes work more efficient.

Engawa Lounge

This is the deck lounge on the second floor.

Deck Lounge

You can relax with your arms resting on the sofa and enjoy reading, or you can spend some elegant time with a drink in hand.
(※Drinks must have a lid)

Seat are equipped with a standing lamp and an electrical outlet, making them ideal for studying or working on a computer.

Quiet Room

If you would like to concentrate on your work in a quiet environment, you can also use the Quiet Room.

It’s great to be able to choose from a variety of options, including partitioned seats and open table spaces, depending on your mood and purpose!

Community Base

If you leave the Quiet Room and go to the right, you will find the Community Base that acts as an office lounge.

This space is also ideal for business use, such as for helping each other with studies or holding web conferences.

There is also a vending machine next to it, making it a perfect place to take a break or refresh your mind.

There is also a manga and light novel section nearby that is popular with junior and senior high school students.

In addition, Miraini also has a well-stocked children’s book section where you can choose books that suit your child’s development, from infants to elementary school students.

When you think of a library, you might imagine a place where you have to be quiet, but at Miraini you don’t have to worry about your children shouting.

There are no partitions between the different areas, and it has an open atmosphere, so everyone from children to adults can relax without having to worry too much.

There is also a table that is just right for children to read books. It will also encourage them to enjoy reading!

This space in the children’s book section is called the “Wooden Ball Pool”!

The wooden balls are made from a variety of tree species and use wood from Sakata. They have a warm texture and are pleasant to touch, making them a popular spot with small children.

This is a pointed bench modeled after the Sankyo Warehouse in Sakata.

Light pours in from outside and the benches are nicely enclosed, making it a comfortable space that is a favorite spot for children.

You can use it however you like, such as reading sample chapters of a book you’re interested in, or as a place to temporarily store a book you’ve chosen.

In addition, near the children’s book section there is a baby room equipped with children’s toilets, diaper changing tables, diaper trash cans, a nursing room and washbasins, so even those with small children can use it with peace of mind.

They also provide hot water for milk.

It’s nice to see such small considerations.

In addition, for parents who want to take their time choosing books in the library, there is a childcare service (applications on the day, first come first served), so please make use of it.

② High degree of freedom

Now, there is another big feature of Miraini: the service that allows you to freely use the building!

You can even take the books and materials from the library to the hotel and restaurant next door.

I thought it was quite unusual that people could enjoy reading books in different areas, even within the same building!

When you check out, you can simply return the book to the hotel reception or the return desk at the library entrance.

It is easy for both hotel guests and tourists to use, and you can feel the hospitality that makes it easy for people to enjoy Miraini!

In this way, Miraini allows you to enjoy using the space in ways that transcend the boundaries between each area.

For example, hotel guests can relax in the library, or people who have finished eating in the restaurant can freely browse the building.

If there are any events taking place on the day, you can also join in and enjoy them.

Information about fun events is posted in various places in the building, so be sure to take a look!

3. There are lots of events every day

Miraini also serves as a place for social interactions, hosting a variety of events on weekdays and weekends.

This Story Room hosts events and book readings for children.

Exciting events that pique your child’s curiosity will be a wonderful memory for parents and children to participate in together.

By the way, on the day of the interview, an event called “Miraini Night Walk” was taking place.

Participants collect stamps as they walk around the library, and the stamp cards collected while having fun will be turned into prizes in a raffle, including bookstore gift cards!

Walking also has the benefit of helping people build up their physical strength, and events were held that people of all ages could easily participate in.

Events like these that make you think, “I’d like to try that!” are held regularly, so checking the daily information is likely to become a part of your daily routine.

This is a corner where books are introduced with a different theme each month.

The theme of the interview was “Dysphagia food”!

It seems like discovering a new book will be an opportunity to learn about different worlds.

So far, we have introduced many of the attractions of the Central Library, but Miraini also has a tourist information center that plays another important role.

There’s a lot to see here too, so let’s take a look at them one by one!

3. Tourist Information Center

As soon as you exit Sakata Station, you will come across the entrance to the Sakata Station Tourist Information Center.

Tourism staff and members of the Sakata City Tourist Guide Association are always on hand here to guide you to tourist spots, and they can also tell you detailed information about tourist spots that even locals don’t know about.

When you hear the word tourist information center, you may imagine a place to ask how to get to tourist spots or about their hours, but this facility at Miraini has an advantage that is unique to the facility.

① A rare tourist information center adjacent to a library

For example, tourists may think, “The store I want to go to isn’t open yet…” or “I’m tired after the long journey and want to relax for a bit.”

At such times, you can spend your time however you like, such as having a meal in the spacious Engawa Lounge or strolling freely around the building.

The benches are made from locally grown cedar and feature cushions made with Shonai sashiko stitching!

Also, since you’ve come all the way to Sakata for sightseeing, learning about Sakata’s specialties, local products, and culture will make for great travel memories.

At Miraini, exhibitions related to Sakata’s crafts and specialty products are held near the tourist information center so that visitors from outside the prefecture can learn about the charms of Sakata.

This is a Sakata kite.

It is said that they were originally made as a winter craft by plasterers and were transported from Osaka on Kitamae ships.

This is the Sakata lion head.

It is a symbol of Sakata, treasured for protecting against illness and evil spirits.

This is the Udogawara doll.

It is said that the original model was Fushimi dolls, which were brought from Kyoto on Kitamae ships.

The dolls have simple, adorable expressions and are made from clay. Their distinctive colors and clothing are eye-catching.

② Sakata City Map created based on user reviews

Now, as you go further from the tourist information counter, you will see the Sakata City Map on your right.

This is a spot where real reviews from locals and tourists who have visited the facility are collected.

Each month had a different theme, and it contained a lot of in-depth information about Sakata that we had not known before.

The adorable illustrations that adorn this city map were drawn by Rikko, an illustrator who lives in Sakata.

Looking at these illustrations with a warm and gentle atmosphere makes us even more excited to walk around the city!

Also, when you walk around town, if you bring along the Shonai Machi Navi Card, available next to the tourist information desk, you can receive special benefits at shops.

You can also get cards for shops in nearby cities such as Sakata, Tsuruoka, Tozawa, and Mogami, so why not try using them to plan your trip? (Available until June 30, 2024)

Additionally, the tourist information center has many pamphlets with information on nearby tourist spots.

In addition, next to this booth there is an introduction corner to the Hikarioka Bunko, which displays historical materials from Sakata.

The Mitsuoka Library Introduction Corner displays an introduction to the Mitsuoka Library, which opened in 1925 to carry on the wishes of Homma Mitsuoka’s scholarship, as well as a video of the library’s collection and some of its materials. [Quoted from the Miraini pamphlet]

Recently, there has been an increase in tourists from overseas, so there are brochures in English available.

Even if you haven’t used a tourist information center much before, when you come to Miraini, be sure to talk to the staff who are knowledgeable about the Machinaka Map and Sakata’s sights.

4. Message

Finally, Ms. Shiori Sato, Deputy Director of Miraini, gave a message to everyone watching VISIT YAMAGATA.

“We hope that many people will come to Miraini, whether they are here for lodging or sightseeing, or not, and that they will use it as a place to enrich their lives and as a place to gather with their families. Please come and spend your time however you like.”

5. Summary

Since its opening in May 2022, Miraini has been visited by many people.

The number of visitors is expected to reach 400,000 by January 2023, and exceed 1 million by spring 2024.

Whether you are here for sightseeing or not, why not spend a fulfilling time at the exchange hub Facility Miraini?

6. Basic information about Miraini

📖 Central Library
Opening hours
9:00~21:00
*Open until 19:00 on Sundays and public holidays

Closed
Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday

Year-end and New Year holidays
December 29 ~ January 3

Other
Book sorting period (within 7 days per year)
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🚲 Tourist Information Center
Opening hours
9:00~19:00

Closed
December 31 ~ January 2