Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
17
TOKYO FILM AND THEATRE FESTIVALS
The biggest of the city's several film festivals is the Tokyo International Film Festival
( W tiff-jp.net.), held each autumn at Roppongi Hills (see p.96) and other venues around Tokyo.
It's one of the few opportunities to catch Japanese and world cinema with English subtitles,
not to mention seeing some films that would never get a general release, although it's
increasingly becoming a vehicle for promoting major releases from the US. Also worth
catching is the annual Tokyo Lesbian and Gay Video and Film Festival (see p.178). Held
annually Oct-Dec, Festival/Tokyo ( W festival-tokyo.jp), the city's major theatre event,
showcases a diverse range of productions, with performances both from Japanese and visiting
international troupes. In addition to the places listed here, Yokohama's Akarenga Theatre puts
on an interesting programme of theatre and dance (see p.242).
Cinemart γωϚʔτ 3-8-15 Roppongi, Minato-ku
T 03 5413 7711; Roppongi station. In its Global
Recognition Series this small art-house cinema screens
Japanese movies that have gained kudos at overseas
festivals (with English subtitles).
Iwanami Hall ؠ೾ϗʔϧ 10F, 2-1 Kanda-Jimbōchō,
Chiyoda-ku T 03 3262 5252; Jimbōchō station. Long-
established venue showing non-commercial European
films from places as diverse as Greece and Poland, as well as
quirky Japanese movies, often from female directors.
National Film Centre ౦ژࠃཱۙ୅ඒज़ؗϑΟϧϜη
ϯλʔ 3-7-6 Kyōbashi, Chūō-ku T 03 3272 8600,
W www.momat.go.jp; Kyōbashi station. A treasure trove
for cinephiles, with a small gallery on the seventh floor for
film-related exhibitions and two small cinemas screening
retrospectives from their vast movie archive. Most are
Japanese classics, though they occasionally dust off their
collection of foreign films.
Shin-Bungei-za ৽จܳ࠱ 3F Maruhan-Ikebukuro
Building, 1-43-5 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
T 03 3971 9422, W shin-bungeiza.com; Ikebukuro
station. Amid the game parlours and sex venues
(“soaplands”) of Ikebukuro is this theatre specializing in
classic reruns and art-house movies. All-night screenings
on Saturdays.
Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills 50)0γωϚζ࿡ຊ
໦ώϨζ Roppongi Hills, Roppongi, Minato-ku T 03
5775 6090; Roppongi station. Ultra-modern multiplex
cinema with bookable seats (no more rushing to grab the
best spot), late-night screenings and popular Japanese
films with English subtitles.
Uplink ΞοϓϦϯΫ 37-18 Udagawachō, Shibuya-ku
T 03 6825 5502; Shibuya station. World cinema is a staple
at this arts centre, which combines a couple of cinemas with
a gallery, live music, bar and various workshops.
Waseda Shōchiku ૣҴాদ஛ 1-5-16 Takadanobaba,
Shinjuku-ku T 03 3200 8968; Takadanobaba station.
Popular with students from the nearby university, this
cinema is cheaper (¥1300) and less fancy than others in
town, but still shows a decent selection of mainstream and
non-commercial releases in double bills.
Yebisu Garden Cinema ܙൺणΨʔσϯγωϚ Yebisu
Garden Place, 4-20 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku T 03 5420 6161;
Ebisu station. There are two screens at this modern cinema,
with numbered seating, showing an interesting range of
non-mainstream US and British releases.
AMUSEMENT AND THEME PARKS
Asakusa Hanayashiki ઙ૲Ֆ΍͖͠ 2-28-1 Asakusa,
Taitō-ku T 03 3842 8780, W hanayashiki.net/e/index.
html; Asakusa station. Japan's oldest amusement park,
dating back to 1853, offers rickety roller coasters and vintage
funfair rides and attractions, including a haunted house.
Adult/5-12/under 5 ¥900/400/free; ride tickets ¥100;
free pass adults/children ¥2200/¥1900. Daily 10am-6pm.
Epson Aqua Stadium ΞΫΞελδΞϜ 4-10
Takanawa, Shinagawa-ku T 03 5421 1111,
W aquastadium.jp; Shinagawa station. There are some
three hundred different species on display at the aquarium
in this entertainment complex behind the Shinagawa
Prince Hotel which also offers dolphin and sea lion shows,
amusement rides and a range of themed restaurants.
Adult/7-15/under 7 ¥1800/1000/600. Mon-Fri noon-
10pm, Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-9pm.
Joypolis δϣΠϙϦε 1-6-1 Daiba, Minato-ku T 03
5500 1801, W tokyo-joypolis.com; Odaiba-Kaihin-
kōen station. Attached to Decks Tokyo Beach is this
three-floor, high-tech amusement park packed with
the latest in Sega's arcade video and computer games
as well as extreme thrill rides such as a spinning roller
coaster. Adult/7-17 ¥800/300; day/night passport
adult ¥3900/2900, child ¥2900/1900. Daily 10am-
11.30pm.
KidZania Tokyo ΩοβχΞ Urban Dock LaLaport
Toyosu, 2-4-9 Toyosu, Kōtō-ku T 0120 924901,
W kidzania.jp; Toyosu station. An imaginative mini-
theme park, inside a giant shopping mall, where kids run
all the various shops and services. It's designed for children
aged 2 to 12, and although everything is in Japanese it's
possible for non-Japanese speaking children to join in the
 
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