Let’s Go To The Movies!

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Going to the cinema is a popular pass-time activity for students, couples, and friends in Japan. For fans of Japanese cinema, a trip to the movies is a chance to see the most popular stars and most spectacular films. The foreign film market is also quite popular, with characters like Iron Man and Spider Man known throughout the country. There are many popular cinema chains, two of which are Toei and Toho

Movies in Japan

Theaters can be found in all major cities around the country, usually within large mall complexes. One can find a theater just by walking around the entertainment districts of Shibuya and Shinjuku in Tokyo.

To get a sense of what movies are playing at the moment, search for 上映中. The search will return a list of movies currently playing at each cinema chain.

Foreign films tend to be released months later in Japan than in other countries. Additionally, while films for adults are subtitled, films for children are usually dubbed into Japanese.

Japanese Cinema

A wide range of food and drinks are available at Japanese theaters, including popcorn which is considered an exotic Western treat. Some theaters also sell pastries and coffee.

It is considered rude to speak during a movie, and movie-goers accordingly do not speak until the film has ended. Additionally, the lights do not come on until the credits at the end of the film have finished, so most movie-goers also sit quietly through the credits.

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Buying Tickets

Movie tickets are usually priced at 1800 yen, though there are usually discounts available for students and seniors. Japanese theaters also commonly offer discounts on certain days, to promote moviegoing. For example, on the first of each month, every theater in Tokyo offers tickets for 1100 yen. There are also other deals, such as “Cinema Day,” “Ladies’ Day,” or “Couple Day.” Check with individual theaters for the exact dates.

Tickets for movies in 3D cost an additional 400 yen. This may or may not include the cost of the 3D glasses, which you must buy but are then free to use at future movies. 

During the busiest times, such as evenings and weekends, tickets to popular movies can sell out ahead of time, so it is a good idea to book tickets ahead of time online. However, the online navigation is most likely in Japanese only, such as in the case of Toho Theaters.

Unlike in some countries, it is not possible to sit anywhere. When purchasing tickets either at the theater or online, you must reserve a seat. Most theaters also offer special seating for the disabled.

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