Hello, everyone!! FlixChatter is going on holiday!! 🇯🇵🍜🍱⛩️ 🎏🎎🏯😎

I’m almost done packing for an 11-day trip to Japan!! It’s been on our bucket list for ages, just like our trip last year to Portugal. I said in that post that there are relatively few films/series set in Portugal, but there are a bunch set in Japanese cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and even Hokkaido in the northern part. There are still quite a few I haven’t seen yet, even the Kurosawa classics, but out of the ones I’ve seen, here are 10 favorites in alphabetical order:

Black Rain (1989)

This neo-noir crime thriller, directed by Ridley Scott, was partially shot in Osaka. Michael Douglas and Andy García portray two NYC cops who apprehend a Yakuza member and have to escort him back to Japan for extradition. I watched this film over 30 years ago, so I don’t recall all the specifics, but I do remember the moody visuals and atmosphere that remind me of Scott’s sci-fi classic Blade Runner.

 

The film showcases the neon-lit, rainy, and gritty streets of Osaka to create a similar dark, crowded, high-tech/low-life vibe as the futuristic Los Angeles in Blade Runner. While in Osaka, the cops stay at the Dotonbori hotel, where they have a view of Ebisu Bridge, adorned with all those vibrant neon lights illuminating the building facades.

The scene with the rainy biker attack was shot on a set designed to resemble Dotonbori, situated in the Juso district (Sakaemachi shopping street) of Osaka. Apparently, they couldn’t get filming permits for the rain scene in the actual bustling Dotonbori area.

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Drive My Car (2021)

Drive My Car is centered on a renowned stage actor and director who learns to cope with a big personal loss when he receives an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya in Hiroshima. Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, the movie is nearly 3 hours long, but it’s not boring, as I find the premise fascinating. As a big fan of theater, I find the creative process of bringing a play to life quite appealing. As the title suggests, the heart of the story takes place during the car ride in a bright red Saab 900. One could even call this a dramatic road movie where Yusuke and Misaki eventually form a bond as they finally lower their guard and begin exchanging secrets and confessions of their past.

The production in Hiroshima utilizes the city’s unique architecture and scenic bridges (including the Akinada Bridge) for its iconic driving sequences, and many of the scenes were filmed at the Grand Prince Hotel.

It was one of my favorite films of 2021, and it won the Best International Feature Film Oscar in 2022.

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From Up on Poppy Hill (2011)

I have to include at least one Studio Ghibli film that’s set in a real-life city. From Up on Poppy Hill is set in Yokohama in 1963, capturing a nostalgic vibe of Japan before the Olympics. The plot revolves around Umi and Shun, who reside in a coastal town with a port, historic Western-style homes, and quaint, narrow streets. The film prominently showcases everyday life at the port, from fish markets to school experiences, serving as a love letter to the city’s 20th-century charm.

Directed by Goro Miyazaki, the son of the legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki, this film lacks the fantastical elements common in many Ghibli films. Even though I lean towards the more magical ones like Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, and Arrietty, which I just watched, it’s still a delightful film that focuses on young love. I really appreciate the beautiful period details of the small hilly town and the lively shopping district in Yokohama.

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Godzilla Minus One (2023)

You’ve got to include one Godzilla movie when talking about Japanese cinema, and I happen to love Godzilla Minus One. It’s hands down my favorite Godzilla film so far, out of all the ones I’ve watched. I’m not exactly a massive fan of monster movies, but I was intrigued to check this one out after it snagged the Oscar for Best Visual Effects earlier that year. And let me tell you, it did not let me down!

Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the film takes place in post-WWII Japan, a country that was left in ruins after the war, and it’s packed with inspiring human stories that balance out the exciting monster action scenes. There are tons of real-life spots across Japan that contributed to the setting of Godzilla Minus One, like Lake Hamana in Shizuoka, Higashihazu Fishing Port in Aichi, and Ginza in Tokyo (the lively commercial area that Godzilla wrecked when he hit Tokyo). I’ll probably be hanging out a lot in Ginza since we’re staying in the Shibuya area.

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Lost in Translation (2003)

Lost in Translation is probably the film that Western audiences are most acquainted with when discussing Hollywood productions set in Japan. This is hardly surprising, as Sofia Coppola crafted a story about unexpected bonds in a foreign environment that is both iconic and indelible.

It marked Scarlett Johansson‘s major breakthrough at just 17 years old, portraying Charlotte, a 22-year-old Yale graduate. I saw this years ago… I forgot how staggering the 35-year age difference was, with Bill Murray being 52 when shooting commenced. Nevertheless, their chemistry felt authentic.

Some of the most unforgettable filming locations include the Park Hyatt Tokyo hotel in Shinjuku, Peak Bar and Lounge, the serene Joganji temple, and, of course, the famous Shibuya Crossing. Additional scenes were shot in Kyoto, featuring the Heian Jingu shrine, and Bob is depicted playing golf against the backdrop of Mount Fuji.

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Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

I watched a documentary after diving into numerous YouTube videos about Japanese cuisine. 😀 It centers around the 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono, who operates the Sukiyabashi Jiro restaurant in Ginza. This establishment is quite compact, accommodating only 10 diners, and is situated within a Tokyo subway station. Jiro loves being a sushi chef; he even dreams about making the best sushi, hence the title. Jiro is such a perfectionist that his eldest son, Yoshikazu, struggles to meet his father’s sky-high standards.

The restaurant has been awarded three Michelin stars, making it nearly impossible to secure a reservation (even President Obama had to reschedule at one point!). Thankfully, sushi isn’t my thing, as I wouldn’t spend ￥55,000 (approximately $350) per person to dine there!

The film is truly captivating, especially for foodies and sushi fans. Jiro maintains a strong bond with his sons, including Yoshikazu’s younger brother, Takashi Ono, who also runs a Michelin-starred restaurant. David Gelb illustrates what defines Jiro Ono as a ‘shokunin,’ meaning artisan or craftsman, through interviews with renowned Japanese food critic Yamamoto Masuhiro and by taking us on a journey through the Tsukiji fish market and suppliers, where they source the finest fish for their sushi. We also catch a glimpse of the Ginza District, an upscale area in Tokyo surrounding the restaurant.

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My Sunshine

I wish I had time to visit northern Japan, but I’d need at least 3 full weeks to explore the entire country. This film takes place on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, where winter signifies hockey season for boys. Takuya (Keitatsu Koshiyama) and Sakura (Kiara Takanashi), two young skaters with contrasting personalities, join forces to prepare for a figure skating duo.

Writer and director Hiroshi Okuyama incorporates Claude Debussy’s renowned Clair de lune as a key motif in the film’s score, which beautifully enhances the gentle and melancholic atmosphere. The blooming friendship that develops between the two skaters and their coach, Arakawa (Sôsuke Ikematsu), a gay former figure skating champion, is sweet and moving. However, heartbreak creeps in due to the rigid societal norms that compel Arakawa to hide his sexual orientation.

The movie is visually stunning as Okuyama portrays the winter landscape, complete with snowy mountains and local ice rinks. The seasonal changes in Hokkaido—especially the arrival and melting snow in winter—symbolically reflect the emotional, fleeting, and formative journeys of the two young skaters and their coach.

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Perfect Days (2023)

This is one of my favorite films of 2023. Wim Wenders‘ Perfect Days is a meditative drama set in Tokyo, centering around Hirayama (Koji Yakusho), a toilet cleaner who takes pleasure in his daily routine and the natural world. The story mainly takes place in Shibuya, highlighting his calm, detailed life through his everyday travels and encounters in urban Tokyo.

Big shoutout to my buddy Patrick from the Life in the Dark blog for recommending I check out some of the toilets featured in this movie. Since I’m based in the Shibuya area, I plan to visit a few of them. The toilet at Nabeshima Shoto Park, with its cool wooden planks, is just a short 20-minute walk from my hotel!

Some of the standout spots include Yoyogi Park, where Hirayama frequently takes his breaks. There’s also the Senso-ji Temple and the Sakurabashi Bridge over the Sumida River, where Hirayama enjoyed biking with his niece.

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The Last Samurai (2003)

Set in the 1870s during the Meiji Restoration, the movie tells the story of Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), an American Civil War vet who’s struggling with his past. The Japanese government brings him on board to train a modern imperial army in Western-style combat to help put down a rebellion led by traditional samurai. After being captured by the samurai leader, Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe, in his first English-language film), and taken to their secluded village, Algren starts to admire their discipline, commitment, and honor. He eventually embraces their way of life and discovers a sense of purpose through the Bushido code.

This period war drama was shot mostly in New Zealand, but there are still a few interesting scenes filmed in the Kansai region of Japan. Some of the notable Japanese locations are the Engyo-ji Temple (Mount Shosha, Himeji), used for the village scenes where Algren lives with Katsumoto. The Chion-in Temple in Kyoto served as the imperial palace.

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Tokyo Vice

If you’re wondering why Shōgun is not on this list, it’s because the series was filmed primarily in British Columbia, Canada, rather than Japan, due to pandemic-related restrictions.

Tokyo Vice, on the other hand, was filmed on location in and around Tokyo. The series, executive-produced by Michael Mann, aired for two seasons from 2020 to 2023, showcasing authentic, immersive urban environments to depict the late 1990s. Showrunner J.T. Rogers drew inspiration from his lifelong buddy Jake Adelstein, who made history in the early 90s as the first Westerner to write for a Japanese newspaper, doing so in Japanese.

What makes this series stand out is its spot-on authenticity and amazing world-building that really pulls viewers into the story—the set designs, the outfits, the cars, the 90s phones, and even the cigarette packs all accurately capture that era. Plus, the lead actor, Ansel Elgort, actually learned to speak Japanese for real instead of just memorizing his lines. I love watching the tentative friendship that grows between him and Ken Watanabe as Detective Katagiri.

Some of the key locations include the Akasaka Esplanade, a lively nightlife hub, and the Dogenzaka (Shibuya) area, famous for its clubs and hostess bars. The Ryūkō-ji Temple in Fujisawa is featured in the intricate funeral scene in season 2. According to this THR article, 70 percent of season two of Tokyo Vice was filmed on location in Japan, compared to 50 percent for the first season.

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So I’ll be taking a long-overdue blog break during my holiday… If you missed my MSPIFF 2026 coverage, here are links to some of my reviews!

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Which of these movies have you seen? If you have been to Japan, do share some travel tips if you have them!

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