Drive-in theaters used to have a place in Japanese everyday life. They started popping up in the country after World War II and they became quite popular during the 1990s. However, they saw a decline due to multiplex theaters offering moviegoers a viable alternative, and this resulted in drive-in theaters becoming pretty much non-existent in Japan.

Almost 30 years later, at a time defined by a worldwide pandemic and a need for social distancing, drive-in theaters are seeing a revival. Close-quarter events have become out of fashion and the current trend is to find ways to be entertained while staying relatively safe.

One Japanese company is taking this chance to offer just that. Do It Theater, a theater production team based in Tokyo, is collaborating with the bayside city of Yokosuka to install a permanent drive-in theater in the city.

The theater is called “Drive in Wonder Theater”, and they are holding an inaugural celebration by showing three classic anime films over three days in late December 2020.

The opening event will start on December 25 with the movie 5 Centimeters per Second by renowned filmmaker Makoto Shinkai. December 26 will have a screening of the romance sci-fi film, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and on December 27, the movie, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone will close the celebration.

Tickets for the opening event are being sold through Peatix, and are priced at 10,000 yen per car. The ticket also comes with a box of movie snacks and a party food plate. You can find more details about the event below.

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Do it Theater presents Drive in Theater 2020 meets KINTO

Address: Drive in Wonder Theater, Nagai Uminote Park, 4-chome Nagai, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 238-0316 Dates:

• December 25, 2020, 18:00 doors open, 20:00 start (5 Centimeters per Second)
• December 26, 2020, 15:30 doors open, 17:30 start (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)
• December 27, 2020, 15:30 doors open, 17:30 start (Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone)
• Ticket website (Japanese)