公 民 館(こうみんかん)

こうみんかん

noun

community center; public hall

1. community center; public hall

A public facility found in neighborhoods across Japan, used for community events, classes, meetings, and cultural activities. Operated by local governments and available for residents to use, often for free or at low cost.

公民館(こうみんかん)で料理(りょうり)教室(きょうしつ)が開(ひら)かれている。

Cooking classes are held at the community center.

町内会(ちょうないかい)の会議(かいぎ)は公民館(こうみんかん)で行(おこな)われる。

Neighborhood association meetings are held at the community center.

地域(ちいき)の公民館(こうみんかん)では子供(こども)からお年寄(としよ)りまで参加(さんか)できるイベントが毎月(まいつき)企画(きかく)されている。

The local community center plans monthly events that everyone from children to the elderly can participate in.

Usage

A fixture of Japanese community life. Nearly every neighborhood has one. They host a wide range of activities: cultural classes (calligraphy, flower arranging), exercise groups, children's events, disaster drills, and local government meetings. During disasters, they often serve as evacuation shelters.

Common collocations

公民館(こうみんかん)活動(かつどう) (community center activities)
公民館(こうみんかん)の講座(こうざ) (classes at the community center)
地区(ちく)公民館(こうみんかん) (district community center)

Similar words

集会所(しゅうかいじょ): meeting hall — smaller, often privately owned by a neighborhood
コミュニティセンター: community center — the loanword, sometimes used for newer facilities

Related Words

Synonym: 集会所(しゅうかいじょ) (meeting hall)

Compare: 会館(かいかん) (meeting hall, assembly hall)

Related: 生涯学習(しょうがいがくしゅう) (lifelong learning)

Compare: 児童館(じどうかん) (children's center)

Compare: 集会場(しゅうかいじょう) (assembly hall)

general

Added 2026.3.20 18:03 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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