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Art House Movie Theaters in Tokyo

by John McGee

I.K.U. at Uplink Factory (Image courtesy Uplink Factory)

There are great options for film lovers in the many small "art house" cinemas throughout Tokyo. 

You may know some of the independent film-friendly theaters like Ebisu Garden Cinema, Shibuya's Cinema Rise, or Ginza's Cine Switch. The following theaters may also screen independent films, but they tend to specialize in unusual, obscure, classic or arty titles. 

Shibuya has the highest concentration of such cinemas. Two of the best are Uplink Factory and Image Forum. In addition to importing films, Uplink underwrites and produces videos (some of which end up in the Tsutaya chain of DVD/video rental shops) and holds music and other events. Image Forum screens everything from the 1960s experimental films of Donald Ritchie to Gone with the Wind. 

The National Museum of Modern Art, Film Center in Kyobashi focuses on historical films, both domestic and international. 

In the Nakano area, both Box Higashi-Nakano and Nakano Musashino Hall feature animation, independent films, and the occasional oddity like a Stan Brakhage retrospective.

Suidobashi's Athenée Francais Cultural Center is a language school on the first three floors with a well-programmed cinema on the fourth floor showing art school classics from Frederick Wiseman, Vertov, Straub-Huillet and others. 

While some of these theaters charge the going rate for a first-run commercial film, many charge less, and some are downright cheap, e.g. the National Museum's Film Center. Others offer perks, like one free drink with admission at Uplink Factory.

A few things to consider: many of the films are not in English—take a friend to translate, work on your kanji, or just give yourself over to the fleeting image; low turnout means unpredictable runswhat's there today may not be tomorrow; and, many of the art films are late shows. 

Athenée Francais Cultural Center. Nearest stn: Suidobashi (JR Sobu, Toei Mita lines), east exit. 2-11 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku (tel: 03-3291-4339).

Box Higashi-Nakano. Nearest stn: Higashi-Nakano (JR Chuo line), west exit, or Toei Oedo line, exit 1. Tel: 03-5389-6780. 

Image Forum Theatre. Nearest stn: Shibuya, east exit. 2-10-2 Shibuya (tel: 03-5766-0114). www.imageforum.co.jp 

Nakano Musashino Hall. Nearest stn: Nakano (JR Chuo line), north exit, near Sun Mall and Cozy Corner (tel: 03-3389-3301). 

National Museum of Modern Art, Film Center. Nearest stn: Kyobashi (Ginza line), exit 1. 3-7-6 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku (tel: 03-3561-0823). 

Uplink Factory. Nearest stn: Shibuya, Hachiko exit. 1-8-17 Jinan 5F, Shibuya-ku (tel: 03-5489-0755).

This article was originally published in 2001.

©2006 John McGee

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