# Cinema and film festivals in Tokyo

Tokyo film festivals and cinemas give a film fan plenty to do: a big international festival every autumn, Asian auteur cinema at Filmex, Oscar-qualifying shorts in June, giant IMAX screens and dozens of small arthouse cinemas. Going to the movies here works a little differently, with reserved seats, quiet audiences and subtitles that are usually in Japanese. The list below is updated daily with festivals and special screenings, and this page covers how to book and what to expect.

## Tokyo International Film Festival and other festivals

The [Tokyo International Film Festival](https://www.tiff-jp.net/en/) (TIFF) runs for about ten days from late October into early November. Since 2021 it has been centred on Hibiya, Yurakucho, Marunouchi and Ginza, with screenings in cinemas and halls a short walk apart, after many years with its main venue at Roppongi Hills. The programme mixes a competition, Asian and Japanese films, anime and big premieres, and most screenings carry English subtitles. Many are followed by a Q&A with the director or cast, usually with interpretation.

[Tokyo Filmex](https://filmex.jp/en/), founded in 2000, follows in late November around Yurakucho, with a focus on Asian auteur cinema and new directors and English subtitles on many films. In June, the [Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia](https://www.shortshorts.org/en/), founded in 1999 by the actor Tetsuya Bessho and accredited by the Academy Awards, shows short films from around the world in Harajuku, Omotesando and other venues. Smaller festivals of documentaries, animation and national film weeks fill the rest of the year.

- Festival tickets go on sale online shortly before each edition, and premieres with guests can sell out within minutes.
- Check the festival site for cheaper same-day or student tickets, which TIFF has offered in recent years.

- → [Ginza, Yurakucho and Hibiya: events and tips](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/ginza.md)
- → [Roppongi: art, winter lights and nights out](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/roppongi.md)
- → [Events in Chiyoda](https://eventstokyo.com/en/chiyoda.md)
- → [Shows & Entertainment events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/entertainment.md)

## Anime screenings and cheering screenings

Anime films often open with stage greetings (butai aisatsu), where voice actors and directors appear before or after a screening; tickets for these are usually sold by lottery or go very fast. Many anime releases also hand out gifts with each ticket (nyujo tokuten), such as illustrated cards or small booklets, which change week by week and bring fans back for repeat viewings.

An ouen jouei (応援上映), a cheering screening, turns the usual silence upside down: the audience may call out to the characters, clap along to songs and wave penlights in character colours. The format took off in 2016 with the anime film King of Prism, with Shinjuku cinemas among the first to embrace it, and it is now used for idol, music and some live-action films. Rules differ by screening (some allow voices, others are clapping and penlights only, and party poppers or standing in the aisles are usually banned), so read the notes on the ticket page.

- → [Anime, manga and game events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/anime.md)
- → [Pop Culture & Conventions events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/pop-culture.md)

## How Japanese cinemas work

Seats are reserved. You choose one on a seat map when you buy, on the cinema chain's site or app or at a ticket machine in the lobby, and most chains open sales a couple of days ahead. Big releases and weekend evenings fill up, so book early. Audiences are quiet: no talking, phones off, and most people stay until the end of the credits, when the lights come up.

Foreign films usually come in two versions: subtitled (字幕, jimaku), with the original audio and Japanese subtitles, and dubbed (吹替, fukikae) into Japanese. Japanese films are almost always shown without English subtitles, except at festivals and occasional special screenings at a few cinemas such as [Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=TOHO%E3%82%B7%E3%83%8D%E3%83%9E%E3%82%BA%20%E5%85%AD%E6%9C%AC%E6%9C%A8%E3%83%92%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BA%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%AF%E5%8C%BA%E5%85%AD%E6%9C%AC%E6%9C%A86-10-2&query_place_id=ChIJf4Qgj3mLGGAR671Nn3OSyY0). Hollywood films sometimes open in Japan weeks or months after the US. Many chains have a discount day each month, and December 1 is Movie Day (映画の日), with cheaper tickets.

For the biggest screens, [Grand Cinema Sunshine](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E3%82%B0%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E3%82%B7%E3%83%8D%E3%83%9E%E3%82%B5%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A3%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E6%B1%A0%E8%A2%8B%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E8%B1%8A%E5%B3%B6%E5%8C%BA%E6%9D%B1%E6%B1%A0%E8%A2%8B1-30-3&query_place_id=ChIJE9KrHHaNGGARY8OTQp77vpE) in Ikebukuro opened an IMAX laser theatre in 2019 that was billed as the largest permanent commercial cinema screen in Japan, and [Marunouchi Piccadilly](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E4%B8%B8%E3%81%AE%E5%86%85%E3%83%94%E3%82%AB%E3%83%87%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA%E6%9C%89%E6%A5%BD%E7%94%BA2-5-1) opened Tokyo's first Dolby Cinema the same year. Multiplexes in Shinjuku and other hubs also have IMAX or premium screens, at extra cost.

- Buy online to pick your seat. Ticket machines usually have an English button.
- Check for 字幕 (subtitled) or 吹替 (dubbed) on foreign films before you pay.

- → [What to do in Tokyo when it rains](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/rainy-day.md)
- → [Ikebukuro: anime, Sunshine City and open-air stages](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/ikebukuro.md)
- → [Events in Toshima](https://eventstokyo.com/en/toshima.md)
- → [Events in Shinjuku](https://eventstokyo.com/en/shinjuku.md)

## Independent cinemas

Tokyo's mini theatres, small independent cinemas, show what the multiplexes don't: arthouse, documentaries, classics and indie Japanese work. Shibuya has the most, including [Eurospace](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AD%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9A%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%8B%E8%B0%B7%E5%8C%BA%E5%86%86%E5%B1%B1%E7%94%BA1-5) in Maruyamacho and [Theatre Image Forum](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E3%82%B7%E3%82%A2%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A1%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9%E3%83%A0%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%8B%E8%B0%B7%E5%8C%BA%E6%B8%8B%E8%B0%B72-10-2), both long known for European, Asian and independent films. Shimokitazawa has [Tollywood](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E3%83%88%E3%83%AA%E3%82%A6%E3%83%83%E3%83%89%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E4%B8%96%E7%94%B0%E8%B0%B7%E5%8C%BA%E4%BB%A3%E6%B2%A25-32-5), a tiny cinema popular with younger audiences, and K2, right by the station. [Waseda Shochiku](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%97%A9%E7%A8%B2%E7%94%B0%E6%9D%BE%E7%AB%B9%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%BF%E5%8C%BA%E9%AB%98%E7%94%B0%E9%A6%AC%E5%A0%B41-5-16) in Takadanobaba shows themed double bills, often on 35mm film, and [Meguro Cinema](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E7%9B%AE%E9%BB%92%E3%82%B7%E3%83%8D%E3%83%9E%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%93%81%E5%B7%9D%E5%8C%BA%E4%B8%8A%E5%A4%A7%E5%B4%8E2-24-15) runs weekly programmes.

These cinemas are small, some with well under a hundred seats, and programmes change every week or two, often with talks by the director on opening weekends. Some sell tickets only at the box office, others online a few days ahead. As everywhere, foreign films carry Japanese subtitles and Japanese films rarely have English ones, so check each screening before you go.

- → [Shimokitazawa: live houses, small theatres and vintage](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/shimokitazawa.md)
- → [Things to do in Shibuya: the crossing, views and nights out](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/shibuya.md)
- → [Events in Shibuya](https://eventstokyo.com/en/shibuya.md)
- → [Events in Setagaya](https://eventstokyo.com/en/setagaya.md)

## Outdoor screenings and film around the city

In summer and early autumn, open-air screenings appear on lawns and plazas, usually free. [Ebisu Garden Place](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%81%B5%E6%AF%94%E5%AF%BF%E3%82%AC%E3%83%BC%E3%83%87%E3%83%B3%E3%83%97%E3%83%AC%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B9%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%8B%E8%B0%B7%E5%8C%BA%E6%81%B5%E6%AF%94%E5%AF%BF4-20) has held picnic-style cinema weekends on its central square, and the Hibiya Cinema Festival in October fills [Tokyo Midtown Hibiya](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E3%83%9F%E3%83%83%E3%83%89%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A6%E3%83%B3%E6%97%A5%E6%AF%94%E8%B0%B7%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA%E6%9C%89%E6%A5%BD%E7%94%BA1-1-2)'s Step Square and nearby [Hibiya Park](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%97%A5%E6%AF%94%E8%B0%B7%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%8D%83%E4%BB%A3%E7%94%B0%E5%8C%BA%E6%97%A5%E6%AF%94%E8%B0%B7%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%921-6) with free screenings in the weeks before TIFF. Bring something to sit on and a light jacket for the evening. Event pages say 雨天決行 (goes ahead in rain) or 雨天中止 (cancelled in rain), and storms stop most of them.

For classics, the [National Film Archive of Japan](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E5%9B%BD%E7%AB%8B%E6%98%A0%E7%94%BB%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AB%E3%82%A4%E3%83%96%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E4%B8%AD%E5%A4%AE%E5%8C%BA%E4%BA%AC%E6%A9%8B3-7-6) in Kyobashi screens Japanese films from its collection and has a permanent exhibition on the history of Japanese cinema on its seventh floor. Fans of animation can see original short films, shown nowhere else, in the small Saturn Theater at the [Ghibli Museum](https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/) in Mitaka.

- → [Ghibli Museum, Mitaka: tickets, films and the park walk](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/ghibli-museum.md)
- → [Museums and big exhibitions in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/museums.md)
- → [Free events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/free.md)
- → [Events in Chuo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/chuo.md)

## All events, soonest first

- **[Halloween Special Screening: Sylvanian Families Movie – The Gift from Freya](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/halloween-special-screening-sylvanian-families-movie-the-gift-from)** — Sun, Oct 25, 2026 10:15 (JST) · Sangenjaya Sharenado Hall (Setagaya) · ¥800
- **[“Now and Then” Documentary screening](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/now-and-then-documentary-screening)** — Sun, Oct 25, 2026 14:00 (JST) · Tokyo University Komaba Campus · Free entry
- **["Hong Kong Paintings" + "Inside the Siege at PolyU" Documentary Film and Drinks Screening Vol. 4: 2019-2020 Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Movement – Approaches to Filming, Depicting, and Planning](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/vol4-20192020)** — Sun, Oct 25, 2026 16:00 (JST) · Rental Space Hammock · Free entry
- **[HIBIYA CINEMA FESTIVAL 2026](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/hibiya-cinema-festival-2026)** — Fri, Oct 9, 2026 – Sun, Oct 25, 2026 (JST) · Tokyo Midtown Hibiya (Chiyoda) · Free entry
- **[39th Tokyo International Film Festival](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/39th-tokyo-international-film-festival)** — Mon, Oct 26, 2026 – Wed, Nov 4, 2026 (JST) · Hibiya, Yurakucho, Marunouchi, Ginza Area (Chiyoda) · price on the official site
- **[Ozzy & Black Sabbath Live Film 'Back to the Beginning' Japan Premiere Screenings (Tokyo and Osaka Only)](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/ozzy-black-sabbath-back-to-the-beginning)** — Wed, Oct 28, 2026 19:00 – Sat, Oct 31, 2026 (JST) · Shinjuku Wald 9 · ¥3,600–¥4,900
- **[CROSSCUT ASIA+ Symposium: SIDE BY SIDE in Time and Place – Evolving Archives and Cinema Reexamining History](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/crosscut-asiaside-by-side-symposium-side-by-side-in-time-and-place-archives-in-becoming-cinema-reopens-history)** — Thu, Oct 29, 2026 17:30 (JST) · LEXUS MEETS... (Chiyoda) · Free entry
- **[TOKYO ANIME NEXT: TV Anime LONA Episode 1 Premiere Screening with Talk Show](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/tokyo-anime-next-tv-lona-1)** — Sat, Oct 31, 2026 12:00 (JST) · Ikebukuro HUMAX Cinemas (Toshima) · ¥2,500
- **[High School Films vol.5](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/vol5-3)** — Sat, Oct 31, 2026 14:00 (JST) · Chigasaki-kan (Chigasaki) · Free entry
- **[WORK CINEMA DIALOGUE: Season 2 #02 'Wonderland North Korea'](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/work-cinema-dialogueseason2-02)** — Sat, Oct 31, 2026 18:00 (JST) · WORK CINEMA Paradise (Sumida) · Free entry
- **[Ozzy & Black Sabbath Live Film 'Back to the Beginning' — Limited Screenings in Tokyo and Osaka: Black Sabbath Special](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/ozzy-black-sabbath-back-to-the-beginning-2)** — Sat, Oct 31, 2026 18:00 (JST) · Shinjuku Wald 9 · price on the official site
- **[Ozzy & Black Sabbath Live Film 'Back to the Beginning' Halloween Screenings in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/ozzy-black-sabbath-back-to-the-beginning-3)** — Sat, Oct 31, 2026 18:00 (JST) · Shinjuku Wald 9 · price on the official site
- **[TOKYO ANIME NEXT Screening: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/tokyo-anime-next-2)** — Sat, Oct 31, 2026 18:20 (JST) · TOHO Cinemas Ikebukuro (Toshima) · price on the official site
- **[TOKYO ANIME NEXT <Screening> Your Name](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/tokyo-anime-next-3)** — Sat, Oct 31, 2026 18:20 (JST) · TOHO Cinemas Ikebukuro (Toshima) · price on the official site
- **[TOKYO ANIME NEXT: 10th Anniversary Screening – My Hero Academia THE MOVIE Heroes: Rising](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/tokyo-anime-next-10-the-movie)** — Sun, Nov 1, 2026 12:10 (JST) · Ikebukuro HUMAX Cinemas (Toshima) · ¥2,500
- **['Demon's Crest' Advance Screening Event](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/demons-crest-advance-screening-event)** — Sun, Nov 1, 2026 15:00 (JST) · United Cinemas Aqua City Odaiba Screen 3 (Minato) · price on the official site
- **[Palestine Film Festival 2026 at Book Café Gnome](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/palestine-film-festival-2026-at-book-cafe-gnome)** — Mon, Nov 2, 2026 18:00 (JST) · Book Café Gnome (Toshima) · Free entry
- **[Rammstein Live Film 'Live in Mexico City' Japan Premiere with Pyrotechnic Screening in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/rammstein-live-in-mexico-city)** — Thu, Nov 5, 2026 19:00 (JST) · Shinjuku Wald 9 · price on the official site
- **[Kazuma Miura Bandoneon Cinema Concert](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/kazuma-miura-bandoneon-cinema-concert)** — Sat, Nov 7, 2026 (JST) · Obirin Art and Culture Hall / Providence Hall · price on the official site
- **[Family Movie Screening for Ages 0 and Up: “Go! Anpanman — The Promise Star” (Kameido Venue)](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/family-movie-screening-for-ages-0-and-up)** — Sun, Nov 8, 2026 (JST) · Kameido Culture Center, Camellia Hall (Koto) · price on the official site
- **['Armored Trooper Votoms: The Grey Witch' Advance Premiere Screening](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/armored-trooper-votoms-the-grey-witch-advance-premiere)** — Sun, Nov 8, 2026 09:30 (JST) · TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills (Minato) · ¥3,000
- **[Harajuku RUIDO 4th Anniversary presents: ASOBiMASHOW ~cinematic~ 'Chapter 6'](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/ruido-4th-anniversary-presents-asobimashow-cinematicchapter6)** — Sat, Nov 14, 2026 16:15 (JST) · Harajuku RUIDO (Shibuya) · ¥4,000
- **[sumika × Toichiro Ruto CINEMA & LIVE](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/sumika-cinemalive)** — Sat, Nov 14, 2026 18:00 – Sun, Nov 15, 2026 (JST) · PIA Arena MM (西区) · ¥11,000
- **[5th Croatia Film Festival - Doors Open 10 Minutes Before Screening, Contact Organizers in Advance for Wheelchair Access](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/5th-croatia-film-festival-doors-open-10)** — Fri, Nov 20, 2026 14:00 – Sat, Nov 21, 2026 (JST) · Kanda Myojin Cultural Exchange Hall B1 EDOCCO STUDIO (Chiyoda) · ¥500–¥9,000
- **[NFAJ Vintage Cinema Book Fair](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/nfaj)** — Sat, Nov 21, 2026 – Sun, Nov 22, 2026 (JST) · National Film Archive Lobby, Nagase Memorial Hall OZU (Chuo) · price on the official site
- **[Re:Stage! 10th Anniversary LIVE!! -Remembers- Blu-ray Release Celebration Screening & Talk Event](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/re-10th-anniversary-live-remembers-blu-ray)** — Sun, Nov 22, 2026 14:00 (JST) · United Cinemas Aqua City Odaiba (Minato) · price on the official site
- **[Hinata Hill Film Screening: 'Two Worlds I Live In'](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/hinata-hill-film-screening-two-worlds-i-live-in)** — Sun, Nov 29, 2026 (JST) · Obirin Arts and Culture Hall / Stones Hall · price on the official site
- **[Screening of the Film 'Gaia Symphony No. 9' (Hachioji, Kitano)](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/screening-of-the-film-gaia-symphony-no-9-hachioji-kitano)** — Sun, Nov 29, 2026 12:30 (JST) · Kitano Civic Center 8F Hall (Hachioji) · ¥1,500
- **[Two Door Cinema Club](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/two-door-cinema-club-tokyo-2026)** — Mon, Nov 30, 2026 19:00 (JST) · SGC HALL ARIAKE (Koto) · S ¥11,000 / A ¥8,000
- **[Asa Birthday Live 2026 & Release Celebration Party: Old Cinema Paradise](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/asa-birthday-live-2026-release-celebration-party)** — Sun, Dec 13, 2026 16:00 (JST) · Akabane ReNY alpha (Kita) · ¥8,000〜

Showing 30 of 39.

## Questions people ask

**When is the Tokyo International Film Festival?**
Usually for about ten days from late October into early November, centred on Hibiya, Yurakucho and Ginza. Check the [official site](https://www.tiff-jp.net/en/) for this year's dates and programme.

**Do Tokyo cinemas show films with English subtitles?**
Foreign films are shown in the original language with Japanese subtitles, so English-language films work fine. Japanese films rarely have English subtitles outside festivals and occasional special screenings.

**How do I buy cinema tickets in Japan?**
Online on the cinema chain's site or app, or at ticket machines in the lobby. You choose a reserved seat, and sales usually open a couple of days ahead.

**What is an ouen jouei?**
A cheering screening, where the audience may call out, clap along and wave penlights. Each screening sets its own rules, so read them on the ticket page.

**Where is the biggest IMAX screen in Tokyo?**
Grand Cinema Sunshine in Ikebukuro has an IMAX laser theatre that was billed as the largest permanent commercial cinema screen in Japan when it opened in 2019.

**Are there outdoor movie screenings in Tokyo?**
Yes, mostly in summer and early autumn and often free, at places such as Ebisu Garden Place and around Hibiya in October.

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Tokyo Events: https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/film