Sendai Mediatheque

Sendai Mediatheque

The Sendai Mediatheque was designed by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito and opened in 2001. It is located on Jozenji Street in Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and is a multifunctional cultural facility that integrates various functions such as exhibition rooms, a library, a video center, a media center, an art center, and an event center.

The building itself is a marvel. It consists of six floor slabs (metal plates) and thirteen independent iron columns shaped like swaying seaweed (called tube columns), which support all spaces across its two underground and seven above-ground floors. The entire exterior is covered with glass, allowing visitors outside to directly see the internal pillar framework, while those inside can clearly view the scenery of Jozenji Street—creating a strong sense of unity between the interior and exterior. Since its completion, the Sendai Mediatheque has attracted many world-renowned architects to visit and study, and it has also served as a filming location for Sendai’s fashion magazine (COLOR) and numerous movies and TV dramas.

The first floor of the Sendai Mediatheque is an open plaza that enlivens art, music (live performances), and cultural activities, making it a hub for Sendai’s art-related initiatives and a gathering place for visitors. It has also led to the concentration of art-related shops and private enterprises in the surrounding area.

Sendai Mediatheque

Must-visit reason: Sendai’s most important art center

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Japan[Japan]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Miyagi Prefecture [Miyagi Prefecture]

City where the attraction is located: Sendai City [Sendai]