Currently, most of us are stuck at home right now because we are keeping ourselves safe from COVID-19. To help all of you to still satisfy your wanderlusts even in this difficult time, I have compiled this five best movies about Japan that will motivate you to travel to the said country once the COVID-19 crisis ceases.
A lot of people can’t help but be bored at home because our usual daily lives were disrupted by the implementation of home quarantine. Frequent travelers like me are also adjusting to the idea of staying home for the longest time.
So without any other further ado, here is the list:
OSAKA ELEGY (1936)
This movie is about a modern girl who makes her way to Osaka, where, she was a telephone operator turned prostitute after being fired from the pharmaceutical company she used to work after she had an affair with her boss.
RASHOMON (1950)
Rashomon is a philosophical/psychological film explaining the nature of truth and meaning of justice through a fictional court proceeding involving four people with different versions of the crime.
Tokyo Story (1953)
The elderly Shukishi (Chishu Ryu) and his wife, Tomi (Chieko Higashiyama), take the long journey from their small seaside village to visit their adult children in Tokyo. Their elder son, Koichi (Sô Yamamura), a doctor, and their daughter, Shige (Haruko Sugimura), a hairdresser, don’t have much time to spend with their aged parents, and so it falls to Noriko (Setsuko Hara), the widow of their younger son who was killed in the war, to keep her in-laws company.
Seven Samurai (1954)
A samurai answers a village’s request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food. A giant battle occurs when 40 bandits attack the village.
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988)
Totoro is a giant rabbit-like creature who became friends with sisters Mei and Satsuki when the two moved in an enchanted country house to be closer to their mother who’s hospitalized.
Spirited Away (2001)
In this animated feature by noted Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, 10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents (Takashi Naitô, Yasuko Sawaguchi) stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku (Miyu Irino), who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and that she must work there to free herself and her parents.
LOST IN TRANSLATION (2003)
Lost in Translation is a film capturing a disoriented, captivating Tokyo in the eyes of two American friends Bob (who went to Tokyo for an ad film) and Charlotte (who was left behind by her photographer husband).
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
Japanese sushi chef Jiro Ono’s 10-seat restaurant located in a Tokyo subway station attracts visitors from around the globe.
YOUR NAME (2016)
Your Name is an anime film about two teenagers — a city boy and a country girl who swapped places.
Shoplifters (2018)
On the margins of Tokyo, a dysfunctional band of outsiders is united by fierce loyalty and a penchant for petty theft. When the young son is arrested, secrets are exposed that upend their tenuous, below-the-radar existence.
BEST MOVIES ABOUT JAPAN: YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE WELCOME! 🙂
There you have it! I still have a lot of recommendations in mind (animes and TV shows included), but at the very least, this list can get you started. Some of the anime shows on my list include Doraemon, Cardcaptor Sakura, Mojacko, Ranma 1/2, and a lot more! Other movies include Hachiko and Filipino films Kita Kita and Between Maybes. But no matter which of them you watch, you will surely get inspired to visit Japan.
If you think there are other inspiring movies about Japan that needs to be included in this list, do let me know by posting a comment, sending me an email, or sliding a DM on my Instagram account. In the meantime, let us all keep safe at home and satisfy our wanderlusts by watching films in the meantime!
You may also check these other travel articles I have written about Japan:
- The Best Hostels in Japan on Every Prefecture
- Coronavirus in Japan: Travel Advisory Updates
- Japan Travel Vlog
- Yokohama Travel Guide 2020
- 10 Instagram Spots in Yokohama
- 10 Best Hostels in Osaka, Japan
- 10 Best Hostels in Kyoto, Japan