Key Takeaways: Shinjuku Central Park hosts three free open-air screenings from October 7 to 9, 2026, each paired with music: Cinema Paradiso, La La Land and Sing Street. Food trucks open at 17:00, live music starts at 18:00 and the film begins at 19:00. The venue has 200 seats, and the event goes ahead in light rain but is cancelled in stormy weather.
Open-air cinema in Shinjuku Central Park
Shinjuku Park Cinema Festival
October 7 (Wed) to 9 (Thu–Fri), 2026 · Theme: music
Freeadmission
3films
200seats
A free outdoor film festival returns to Shinjuku Central Park for three evenings in October. The Shinjuku Park Cinema Festival (新宿パークシネマフェスティバル2026) picks music as this year’s theme, so each night pairs a music-driven movie with a live set and a food menu inspired by the film. Food trucks open at 17:00, the band plays from 18:00 and the screening starts at 19:00.
Below is everything confirmed on the official festival page as of September 16, 2026, plus the gaps you should check before heading out.
Contents
Festival at a glance
| Dates | October 7 (Wed), 8 (Thu) and 9 (Fri), 2026 |
|---|---|
| Times | Food trucks 17:00 Live music 18:00 Screening 19:00 |
| Venue | Fun More Time Hiroba, Shinjuku Central Park (新宿中央公園 ファンモアタイムひろば) |
| Address | 2-11 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo |
| Admission | Free |
| Seats | 200 (viewing seats and table seats) |
| Weather | Goes ahead in light rain, cancelled in stormy weather |
How each evening runs
All three nights follow the same format, so you can plan around a fixed schedule:
- 17:00 — Food trucks open, including a film-themed cinema menu that changes every night.
- 18:00 — Live music on site, with a different act each evening.
- 19:00 — The film starts on a large outdoor screen.
The official page does not list a closing time, so check there if you need to catch a particular train home.
Films, live music and food by night
| Night | Film (19:00) | Live music (18:00) | Cinema menu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 7 (Wed) | Cinema Paradiso (ニュー・シネマ・パラダイス) 1989 / 124 min Italian, Japanese subtitles | アンサンブル シュマール string quintet | Italian food, such as Hida beef Bolognese fries, a Bolognese chili dog and Bolognese pasta |
| Oct 8 (Thu) | La La Land (ラ・ラ・ランド) 2016 / 128 min English, Japanese subtitles | Blue Herd A Bigband 18-piece big band | Chicken on a Stick, named after the bar Seb cares about in the film |
| Oct 9 (Fri) | Sing Street (シング・ストリート 未来へのうた) 2015 / 106 min English, Japanese subtitles | Light music club of Tokyo Metropolitan Shinjuku High School (東京都立新宿高等学校 軽音楽部) | 1980s Dublin theme: fish and chips, Guinness and more |
Besides the cinema menu, the food trucks also serve Asian and American dishes, galettes and drinks.
Cinema Paradiso
A boy named Toto grows up around the cinema of a small Sicilian village, learning from projectionist Alfredo. Its score is a big part of why people remember it.La La Land
An aspiring actress, Mia, and a jazz pianist, Seb, chase their dreams and each other in Los Angeles. A full musical, ideal for an open-air night.Sing Street
A teenager in Dublin forms a band and grows up through music, friendship and first love. The high school band opening that night fits the story neatly.Seating: what we know and what we don’t
The venue has 200 seats in two styles:
- Viewing seats for people who mainly want to watch the film.
- Table seats for people who want to eat and drink during the evening.
⚠️ The information we checked does not say whether seats are reserved in advance or first come, first served, and it does not list food or drink prices. Please confirm both on the official page before you go.
Getting there and rain policy
- Tochomae Station (Toei Oedo Line): Exit A5 connects directly to the venue.
- Nishi-Shinjuku Station (Tokyo Metro): about a 5-minute walk.
- Shinjuku Station (all lines): about a 10-minute walk.
The festival goes ahead in light rain but is cancelled in stormy weather. If the forecast looks uncertain, check the official page on the day.
Tips for international visitors
- Pick your night by language. The official listing shows Japanese subtitles for all three films. La La Land and Sing Street are in English, so they are the easier choice if you don’t read Japanese. Cinema Paradiso is in Italian.
- Come early if you want to eat. Food trucks open two hours before the film, and the live set fills the hour before the screening.
- Make a night of it cheaply. Tokyo bathhouses make a good end to an evening outdoors, and a ¥300 sento coupon covering 383 bathhouses keeps the cost down.
- Coming from outside Tokyo? Look at the Aki no Norihodai Pass for unlimited JR local trains or the 50% off Tokudane Special 28 Shinkansen fares before booking your trip.
FAQ
- Q. Is the Shinjuku Park Cinema Festival free?
- Yes. Admission is free on all three nights. Food and drinks from the food trucks are sold separately, and prices are not listed in the information we checked.
- Q. Do I need to reserve a seat?
- There are 200 seats, split into viewing seats and table seats. The booking rules are not stated in the information we checked, so confirm them on the official page before you go.
- Q. Are the films shown with English subtitles?
- The official listing shows Japanese subtitles for all three films. La La Land and Sing Street are in English, and Cinema Paradiso is in Italian.
- Q. What happens if it rains?
- The festival goes ahead in light rain and is cancelled in stormy weather.
- Q. What time does it start?
- Food trucks open at 17:00, live music starts at 18:00 and the film starts at 19:00.
- Q. What is the nearest station?
- Tochomae Station on the Toei Oedo Line connects directly to the venue from Exit A5. Nishi-Shinjuku Station on Tokyo Metro is about a 5-minute walk, and Shinjuku Station is about a 10-minute walk.
Information as of September 16, 2026. Source: Shinjuku Park Cinema Festival 2026 official page. Details may change, so please check the official page for the latest updates.