Cinema Walk No. 6 "Kino Cinema Yokohama Minato Mirai, a small cinema in Minato Mirai"

"Cinema Walk" introduces mini-theaters in Kanagawa Prefecture. This time we are introducing "kino cinéma Yokohama Minato Mirai." Minato Mirai is visited by many tourists from Japan and abroad, and is a town loved by locals, with many leisure facilities such as shopping malls, amusement parks, and art museums. There are also several cinemas, and watching movies at Minato Mirai was a regular weekend routine for me when I was a student. But did you know that there is a mini-theater in Minato Mirai?

As you leave Exit 1 of Minatomirai Station on the Minatomirai Line, you will see the two giant towers that symbolize Yokohama: the Landmark Tower and Queen's Square. If you turn your back on them and continue walking, a modern building made entirely of glass will jump into your eyes. On the first floor of this building facing the Grand Mall, you will find the TSUTAYA Yokohama Minatomirai store and a Starbucks, where you can read your favorite book while sipping coffee. And in this corner, where the aroma of coffee wafts through the air, is the entrance to kino cinéma Yokohama Minatomirai.

At the entrance on the first floor, there are pamphlets and introduction panels for films currently being shown and those scheduled to be screened soon. The screen at the top displays the screening times and availability of each film, so you can either check the time of the film you're interested in or find out information about films that are playing at a convenient time. This cinema, run by the Kinoshita Group, offers a wide range of films, from popular titles to independent films, in addition to films distributed by Kino Films. The lineup for the day included a popular film that was recently nominated for an Academy Award, as well as a documentary focusing on drummers.

Once you've decided which movie you want to see, head to the theater. Take the stairs at the back or the elevator to the second floor and you'll arrive at the theater. The sign has blue lettering, red flowers, wooden doors and white walls. In contrast to the modern atmosphere of the first floor, the interior is cute, like a European cityscape. It's stylish, yet unpretentious and warm, and as if to symbolize that atmosphere, the familiar characters will greet you in the restrooms with a lot of charm.

On the second floor, there is a shop and a small merchandise area, and you can also order drinks from the bar. From there, a long corridor leads to three theaters, with Theater 1 at the front having 55 seats, and Theaters 2 and 3 next to it having 111 seats each. There is an atrium in front of the theaters, so the sunlight that pours into the spacious space is pleasant. Throughout the building, there are exhibits and panels related to the films being screened.

The seats in the theater are arranged with plenty of space between them. Each seat can recline and has armrests on both sides, so you can relax and enjoy the movie.

Originally, this second floor area was used for CD and DVD rentals, but the rental service ended in October 2018. The following year, in 2019, Kino Cinema Yokohama Minatomirai opened in the former location.
In this day and age when streaming services are abundant, you can watch a wide variety of movies at home without having to rent or go to the cinema. In this day and age, the opening of a cinema where you can enjoy movies of all genres seems to prove that the desire to watch movies at the cinema remains unchanged.

Kino Cinema Yokohama Minato Mirai is a recommended movie theater for those new to mini theaters. The open atrium design makes it easy to just walk in. Also, its excellent location means you can enjoy watching movies casually according to your schedule and mood for the day, rather than just planning in advance. In between shopping or sightseeing, or when you've split up with friends early. You might pop in thinking, "I wonder if there's an interesting movie playing?" You'll have the chance to encounter a masterpiece you've never even heard of before. It's a small movie theater in a seaside town that fits into your life.

Kino Cinema Yokohama Minato Mirai
Homepage: Here
4-7-1 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, 220-0012
Minato Mirai Mid Square 2F (TSUTAYA Yokohama Minato Mirai store 2F)

Click here for the first Cinema Walk "Cinema Jack & Betty" in Wakabacho, Yokohama
Cinema Walk No. 2: "Cinema Novecento" in Fujidana Shopping Street, Yokohama City
Cinema Walk No. 3 Yokohama City Isezakicho "Yokohama Cinemarin" is here
Cinema Walk No. 4: Fujisawa City Kugenuma Beach "Cinekoya"
Cinema Walk No. 5 "Kamakura City Kawakita Film Museum" is here