Japan

Funding bodies

Fund Goal

Promoting co-production between Japan and other countries

Get the list of funding programmes

Regulation

For a short-term stay (90 days) no visa is required:  EU,  Andorra,  Australia,  Argentina,  Bahamas,  Barbados3,  Brunei (15 days),  Canada,  Chile,  Costa Rica,  Dominican Republic,  El Salvador,  Guatemala,  Honduras,  Hong Kong,  Iceland,  Indonesia5 (15 days),  Israel,  Lesotho,  Liechtenstein,  Macau,  Macedonia,  Malaysia,  Mauritius,  Mexico,  Monaco,  New Zealand,  Norway,  San Marino,  Serbia,  Singapore,  South Korea,  Suriname,   Switzerland1,  Taiwan4,  Thailand3 (15 days),  Tunisia,  Turkey,  United States,  Uruguay.

For more details please consult: http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html

When shooting films and videos in Japan, filmmakers need to: obtain permission or permits to use locations and facilities for shooting including roads; consider business compensation for private commercial facilities; obtain permission to shoot displays and merchandise; and consider the portrait rights of passersby. 

Accepts ATA carnet.

The standard VAT rate is 5%. It  will be raise to 8% from 1st of April 2014.  

Japanese copyright law protects all works "in which thoughts or sentiments are expressed in a creative way, and which falls within the literary, scientific, artistic or musical domain". The laws automatically provide the following rights, without the need for formal declaration or registration.

Film Commissions

Ehime

Ehime Film Commission functions to encourage and facilitate movie-making in Ehime Prefecture and support and assist those shooting film in and around the city. It offers assistance in locating movie settings, supports applications for filming permits, introduces related supportive service enterprises...

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Fukui

Fukui Film Commission functions to encourage and facilitate movie-making in Fukui and support and assist those shooting film in and around the city. It offers assistance in locating movie settings, supports applications for filming permits, introduces related supportive service enterprises (construction,...

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Hiroshima

Hiroshima Film Commission was established in 2002 to promote Hiroshima’s lovely waterfront and various sites, ever changing with the four seasons, as filming locations. Our organization, funded by Hiroshima municipal government, is a section set up in Tourism Promotion Department in Hiroshima Convention...

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Kobe

The Hyogo Film Commission Network is a network of film commissions, cities, and towns throughout the prefecture working together to introduce filming locations, provide information, and offer a variety of other services related to the production of films, television, and other footage.

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Kokurakita-ku

Kitakyushu Film Commission (Kitakyushu FC), established in 1989, was the first film commission in Japan and is dedicated to helping make the process of filming run smoothly. Kitakyushu FC offers the following services: -Consultation concerning all aspects of filming -Research and introduction of film...

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Matsumoto

Matsumoto Film Location Support Secretariat functions to encourage and facilitate movie-making in Matsumoto and support and assist those shooting film in and around the city. It offers assistance in locating movie settings, supports applications for filming permits, introduces related supportive service...

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Nagoya

Film Commission Nagoya Location Navi was established as a coordinating body for location shootings for the movie and TV drama making in this city. Every kind of a helping hand will be reached out to film producers in order to ensure the smooth shooting. It is hoped the regional attraction of Nagoya...

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Naha

Okinawa Prefecture is located in the southernmost tip of Japan and has a beautiful coastlines surrounded by amazing coral reefs, white sandy beaches and cobalt blue ocean. The archipelago consists of 160 islands, at latitude 24° to 27° north and longitude 122° to 128° 30' east. The span of those...

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Sapporo

Sapporo Film Commission(SFC) is the official film commission of Sapporo City,Hokkaido,Japan. SFC develops partnerships with countries worldwide for filming support,international co-production and content distribution. Click here for more information.

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Sendai

The prefecture of Miyagi is well-known for its picturesque tourist sites of rich natural beauty and historical and cultural heritages. This reputation has invited a wide variety of interest from both film and TV productions, inspiring even more artistic minds nationally and internationally. We therefore...

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Tokyo

The Tokyo Location Box (here in after reffered to as the"TLB") was established in April, 2001 as part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. It provides services to ensure safe and trouble-free filming experience in Tokyo with the cooperation of local governments, private companies, local communities,...

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Coproduction treaties

Professional Associations

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