Key Takeaways: Ehon no Machi Hiroba 2026 turns Itabashi Daiichi Junior High School into a picture book fair on October 17 (11:00–17:00) and October 18 (9:00–16:00). Now in its fifth year, it combines publisher sales, a Tokyo Kasei University craft workshop, a cardboard maze and a new bookshop run by four local junior high students. The Itabashi Kumin Matsuri, held the same weekend, makes the whole neighbourhood especially busy.
Itabashi City in Tokyo is turning a local junior high school into a two-day picture book fair on October 17 and 18. Ehon no Machi Hiroba 2026 (絵本のまちひろば2026), now in its fifth year, puts picture book sales, craft workshops, stage programs and play attractions under one roof. It runs at the same time as the Itabashi Kumin Matsuri (板橋区民まつり), the ward festival that drew a cumulative 400,000 visitors last year, so the whole neighbourhood will be busy that weekend.
Contents
Dates, hours and venue at a glance
| Event | Ehon no Machi Hiroba 2026 (5th edition) |
|---|---|
| Saturday | October 17, 2026 11:00–17:00 |
| Sunday | October 18, 2026 9:00–16:00 |
| Venue | Itabashi Daiichi Junior High School (板橋区立板橋第一中学校) Gym and ground floor of the school building |
| Address | 50-1 Oyama-higashicho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo (東京都板橋区大山東町50-1) |
| Organizer | Itabashi City (板橋区) |
| Held with | Itabashi Kumin Matsuri |
| Admission | Not stated in the announcement. Check the official page. |
| Contact | Itabashi City, Creative City Design Division (創造都市デザイン課) Tel. 3579-2515 |
💡 The announcement does not mention entry or workshop fees. Before you go, check the official event page for the latest details.
Highlights: what is on this year
The fair is built together with local companies, universities and creators. Besides picture book and goods sales, the city has picked out a few headline programs for this year.
| Program | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Junior High School Bookshop (中学生本屋さん) New this year | Four local junior high students each set a theme, choose picture books for a special corner and serve visitors at the counter themselves. They took lessons beforehand on picking books and on what makes a bookshop appealing. In cooperation with Miraiya Shoten Itabashi (未来屋書店板橋店). |
| Craft workshop Tokyo Kasei University × Lintec | Students from Tokyo Kasei University (東京家政大学) run a hands-on workshop using drawing paper supplied by Lintec Corporation (リンテック株式会社), a major maker of adhesive products and specialty paper based in Itabashi. |
| Itabashi Wimmelbook debut (板橋ウィンメルブック) | First public showing of a wimmelbook created by local printing and bookbinding businesses together with creators. |
| Creators Market and shop area | Picture books sold by publishers, a prize draw and popular goods. |
| Hands-on attractions | Making a Douzo no Isu chair (どうぞのいす), a cardboard maze (ダンボール迷路) and Moji Atsume letter collecting (もじあつめ). |
Tokyo Kasei University students take part every year, so the craft area tends to be one of the liveliest corners in the gym.
Stage programs and play attractions
A stage program runs alongside the shopping and workshops. The flyer above lists the stage schedule, and the official page is the place to confirm times on the day.
For smaller kids, the cardboard maze is an easy win. Past editions decorated it with pictures from around the world.
Why Itabashi calls itself a picture book town
Ehon no Machi means picture book town, and Itabashi uses it as its city brand. The idea grew out of three things the ward already had:
- Ties with Bologna, Italy, that started through the ward’s art museum.
- The Central Library, also known as Itabashi Bologna Picture Book Museum (いたばしボローニャ絵本館), which holds a large collection of foreign picture books.
- A cluster of printing and bookbinding businesses in the area, which is also why the new wimmelbook was made locally.
Venue map and planning tips
- The two days have different hours. Saturday opens at 11:00 and closes at 17:00. Sunday opens earlier at 9:00 and closes earlier at 16:00.
- Expect crowds. The Itabashi Kumin Matsuri takes place the same weekend, and it drew a cumulative 400,000 visitors last year.
- Check fees before you go. Entry, workshop and goods prices were not in the announcement, so look at the official page first.
- Plan more family outings. The Asoview campaign with up to ¥3,000 off at spots like Sanrio Puroland is worth a look, and anime fans may enjoy our Ghibli Park exhibition guide.
- More creative campus events. If the student-run programs appeal to you, see our Musashino Art University Festival guide, or browse past local festivals such as the Shibaura Canal Festival.
FAQ
- Q. When is Ehon no Machi Hiroba 2026?
- Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 11:00 to 17:00 and Sunday, October 18, 2026 from 9:00 to 16:00.
- Q. Where is it held?
- In the gym and on the ground floor of Itabashi Daiichi Junior High School, 50-1 Oyama-higashicho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo.
- Q. Is admission free?
- The announcement does not mention admission or workshop fees. Please check the official event page before you go.
- Q. Is it part of the Itabashi Kumin Matsuri?
- It is held at the same time as the Itabashi Kumin Matsuri, the ward festival that drew a cumulative 400,000 visitors last year.
- Q. What is new this year?
- The Junior High School Bookshop, where four local junior high students choose picture books and serve visitors themselves, is a first for this year.
Sources: Ehon no Machi Hiroba official page / Itabashi City press release (October 9, 2026). Details may change, so please confirm on the official page.