How the Tokyo Film Commission is helping international productions make the most of the city

Obtaining the required permits to shoot in the busy Japanese capital of Tokyo can feel like a daunting task for international film and TV productions. This is where Tokyo Film Commission (TFC) provides guidance and support for applications, liaising with the national government and city authorities.

Common requests for support include organising permits to shoot in the city, often when filming permissions are required from Tokyo’s police department. “We have a very good relationship with police stations across the city,” says a TFC spokesperson. “We are happy to help with any requests and do what we can.”

Should a filmmaker want to shoot on city roads (a road-use permit issued by the police chief is necessary for shooting on the streets), TFC is on hand to help. While the commission does not apply for shooting permits itself on behalf of a filmmaker, it will recommend a local location or production company or a freelance location co-ordinator who will go through all the necessary application procedures and work closely with the production team.

Tokyo is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world and has multiple draws for filmmakers, combining history, cutting- edge architecture and infrastructure alongside natural beauty.

The city boasts everything from Japanese gardens providing peace and tranquillity throughout the city, to Shibuya with its 21st-century futuristic vistas, and Asakusa with its many historical and cultural assets. 

In terms of financial incentives, international film and TV projects that spend at least $3.5m (¥500m) on production costs in Japan or whose total production costs exceed $6.9m (¥1bn) and direct production costs in Japan exceed $1.4m (¥200m) can access Japan’s location incentive — it can reimburse up to 50% of qualifying expenditure.

In the last 12 months, the city has played host to Netflix crime caper City Hunter, directed by Yuichi Sato, which shot on location in Kabukicho. Netflix also backed House Of Ninjas, a spy thriller from writer/director Dave Boyle, starring Kento Kaku, Yosuke Eguchi and Tae Kimura. The series imagines a world in which ninja clans are alive and well — except they are (mostly) retired.

Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters also filmed partly in Tokyo, with a cast including Anna Sawai, Ren Watabe and Kurt Russell.