Two weekends ago, my partner and I went to see the movies. We're a fan of late-night movies and there's only one cinema (that I know of as of this time) that has movie schedules up to 1 AM, that is Toho Cinemas Shinjuku.
Toho Cinemas Shinjuku is located in the red light district of Tokyo, Kabukicho in Shinjuku. I have featured Kabuchiko in my blogs before because I frequent this place but I don't think I have shown you what this place looks like from midnight to dawn.
It's not really all the time that this theater has cinema schedules that are passed midnight. It's just that this weekend they have extended the movie time schedule for one particular movie - the movie that we have watched - One Piece Film: RED. I already made a post about the movie and my thoughts about it last week.
Last April when the new Detective Conan (or Case Closed in some countries) movie was released, we also watched the movie at midnight in this cinema. I think they anticipate that the movie will have a lot of viewers so they open til late, maybe for that Saturday the movie is released and it may extend to next Saturday too depending on the situation.
We took the last train to Shinjuku that Saturday night. There were a few people when we walked from Shinjuku Station to Kabukicho. Probably because it just stopped raining. That whole Saturday it rained so hard and just stopped a few hours before midnight.
I was expecting that since it rained, there would also be a few people in Kabuchiko or maybe none. I imagined it to be a ghost town. But well, there were still a few people wandering in the night in this red light district.
I think we had a great view of the place from where we were standing. We're just outside the cinema building. We haven't entered it. There's still a lot of time before the movie starts.
It's actually messy. There were trash everywhere. Maybe it's not so visible in the photo but there was. There was even a broken umbrella a few steps away from where we were.
Few moments later, there were groups of people gathering in the streets of Kabukicho. I didn't notice where they came from though. I was preoccupied with the people falling in line in the gaming area, as if there's something valuable or limited edition. I didn't investigate the matter fully because my partner wanted to stop by the convenience store before going to the theater.
I waited for him outside the kombini (how Japanese calls convenience store). I think it was a bad idea because I was in the clubs and pubs area, they might bring me somewhere and I wouldn't be able to pay. LOL
While standing there, I saw a girl being guided by a male guy, definitely a host, telling her the ATM's location. Hmm.. π
We didn't stay long in the kombini. A few seconds of standing outside made me a little scared for my life. π
We're now going to the theater. It's located on the 3rd floor of the building. The shops and restaurants on the first floor were already closed at that time. And we didn't check the hotel and the head of Godzilla located in the 8F. Maybe for another day. It's midnight LOL
So far, I haven't tried the 4D in this theater. I have watched it in IMAX but that was in Toho Cinemas Hibiya.
I felt safe here in the theatre than outside. π
After printing our tickets, we bought food and drinks. A movie is a great excuse to buy popcorn. π I think 90% of the time I watch a movie in the cinemas, I buy popcorn.
The churro was so long and the container I was holding's built for popcorn and drinks, not for the churros. I was so careful for it not to break. Luckily, it didn't.
We got to the cinema lobby so early. We're watching the movie on Screen 9 and it's still being prepared. Couldn't go inside yet so we had no choice but to stand and wait. There were seats just outside this lobby, but it's not allowed to bring food and drinks outside. There were no seats in this lobby. Would be better if there were.
While waiting, I was busy looking around while my partner went outside for a while.
We didn't wait that long to enter the theater.
The movie finished at around 3:30 AM. When we went out, there were still a few people around Kabukicho. I imagined them to be going home or waiting for the first train.
The people falling in line was outside the sign GiGo but they're gone already. I wonder what that line was about.
This place is really lively even at this time. I wonder how it looks in the morning. Maybe this is one of the places in Tokyo that never sleeps.
We didn't stay in the Red Light District further. After the movie, we walked back home.
The other areas in Shinjuku also sleep. π
Watching a movie on a Saturday midnight is really fun and peaceful. It's not so crowded so it doesn't drain me that much. You could choose where to be seated and you won't have someone beside you.
The only thing to note is not to be alone especially if you're a woman. Since the cinema is located in the Red Light District, it's still kinda scary to be alone if you're not used to these kinds of places.
Thanks for reading!
See you around! γγγγγΎγγοΌ
All photos are taken using my phone unless stated otherwise.