How to Book Movie Tickets on 109 Cinemas (Step-by-Step Guide)

Introduction

Planning to watch a movie at 109 Cinemas during your trip to Japan?

Although the booking website is mainly in Japanese, it’s easy to reserve tickets even if you don’t create an account. After selecting your movie and showtime, simply tap the Language button to switch the booking process to English.

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to book tickets, what information you’ll need, and what to expect on the day of your visit.

Whether you’re a tourist or a first-time visitor to a Japanese movie theater, this guide will help you complete your booking with confidence.

🎬 Ready to Book?
Open the 109 Cinemas Online Ticket Booking page in a new tab, then follow the step-by-step guide below.
💡 You don’t need to create an account to book tickets.

Quick Facts

Here’s a quick overview before we go through the booking process.

Question	Answer
Official English website available?	No. (Except for 109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku, which has its own English website.)
Can you book entirely in English?	✅ Yes. After selecting your showtime, you can switch the booking process to English.
Is guest checkout available?	✅ Yes
Is membership required?	❌ No
Can tourists use it?	✅ Yes (with a phone number, name and email)
Can overseas credit cards be used?	✅ Yes (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, and Discover)
Is a Japanese phone number required?	❌ No
Can you use only an email address?	❌ No. You’ll also need your name and phone number.

Before You Start

Good news: During our testing, Chrome’s built-in translation worked well on the Japanese pages before the English booking option became available.

After selecting your movie and showtime, you can switch the booking process to English by tapping the Language button in the top-right corner of the screen.

What You’ll Need Before Booking

Before you start, make sure you have the following ready:

What you’ll need	Notes
📧 Email address	Your booking confirmation will be sent here.
📱 Phone number	An international phone number can be used.
💳 Payment method	Major international credit cards and several digital payment methods are supported.
🎟️ MoviTicket (optional)	If you already have a MoviTicket, you’ll enter the number and PIN during booking.

Good to know: You don’t need to become a Cinema Point member to book tickets.

When Can You Book?

109 Cinemas starts selling tickets 2 days before the screening date.

However, Cinema Point Members can purchase tickets earlier for most movies.

Customer	Booking Opens
Guest (No membership)	2 days before at 12:00 AM (midnight)
Cinema Point Members	3 days before at 9:00 PM (most movies only)

Tip: If you’re planning to watch a popular movie, booking as soon as tickets go on sale gives you the best chance of getting good seats.

Step-by-Step Booking Guide

Follow these steps to book your movie ticket on the 109 Cinemas website.

Step 1 — Choose Your Theater

Start by selecting the 109 Cinemas location where you’d like to watch your movie.

The theater list is displayed in Japanese. If you don’t read Japanese, Chrome’s built-in translation works well and makes it easy to find the correct location.

Tip: If you’re traveling in Japan, double-check that you’ve selected the correct theater before continuing.

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Step 2 — Select Your Movie and Showtime

After choosing your theater, you’ll see the movie schedule for today by default.

If you’re planning to watch a movie on another day, select your preferred date first. Then choose the movie you’d like to watch and tap your preferred showtime.

On the mobile website, movie titles are displayed in Japanese only. During our testing, Chrome’s built-in translation made it easy to identify the correct movie.

Tip: Double-check that you’ve selected the correct version of the movie, such as subtitled, dubbed, or IMAX. If you’re not sure how Japanese theaters label subtitled movies, read our guide: Do Japanese Movie Theaters Have English Subtitles?

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Step 3 — Choose Your Seats

After selecting your showtime, you’ll be taken to the seat selection screen.

Tap any available seat to choose where you’d like to sit. Available seats are shown in different colors, while unavailable seats are grayed out.

Some theaters also offer premium seating options, such as reclining seats or premium seats, for an additional fee.

Tip: Popular movies and weekend screenings can sell out quickly, so booking early gives you the best chance of getting your preferred seat.

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Step 4 — Continue Without Membership

After selecting your seats, you’ll be asked to agree to the terms and conditions.

Next, choose “Non-members” if you don’t have a Cinema Point Card. You don’t need to create an account to complete your booking.

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Tip: A membership is not required to book tickets online. However, Cinema Point members can purchase tickets earlier for most movies.

Step 5 — Enter Your Information

Next, enter your personal information to complete your booking.

You’ll need to provide:

Full name
Phone number
Email address

Your email address will be used to send your booking confirmation, and your phone number is required to look up your reservation or print your ticket at the theater.

Tip: You don’t need a Japanese phone number. During our testing, we were able to enter an international phone number without any issues.

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Step 6 — Choose Your Ticket Type

Now it’s time to select your ticket type.

Choose the option that matches your eligibility, such as Adult, University Student, or High School Student.

If you have a MoviTicket, select the MoviTicket option and enter your MoviTicket number and PIN to apply it to your booking.

Tip: If you’re watching an IMAX, 4DX, SCREENX, or another premium format, an additional surcharge may apply even when using a MoviTicket.

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Step 7 — Complete Your Payment

Finally, choose your preferred payment method and review your booking details before completing your purchase.

109 Cinemas accepts major international credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, and Discover.

You can also pay using several popular digital payment services, such as PayPay, d Payment, au PAY, Merpay, Alipay+, and Rakuten Pay.

Once your payment is complete, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing your booking details.

Tip: Before tapping the final confirmation button, double-check your movie, showtime, seats, and ticket type. Once your booking is complete, changes or cancellations are generally not allowed.

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How to Receive Your Ticket

Once your booking is complete, 109 Cinemas will send a confirmation email containing both your Purchase Number and a QR code (Mobile Ticket).

You can enter the theater using either of the following methods:

Option 1 — Use the Mobile Ticket

Show the QR code from your confirmation email on your smartphone when you arrive at the theater.

You can go directly to the entrance without printing a paper ticket.

Option 2 — Print Your Ticket at the Theater

If you prefer a paper ticket, you can print one at the self-service ticket machine before your movie.

You’ll need your Purchase Number and the phone number you entered during booking. Cinema Point members can also print tickets using their membership card.

Tip: If you lose your Purchase Number, contact the theater where you made your booking as soon as possible.

Things to Know Before Booking

When Do Ticket Sales Open?

109 Cinemas starts selling tickets 2 days before the screening date at 12:00 AM (midnight).

Cinema Point Members can usually purchase tickets earlier—3 days before the screening date from 9:00 PM for most movies.

Tip: If you’re planning to watch a popular movie, booking as soon as tickets go on sale gives you the best chance of getting your preferred seat.

Can I Cancel or Change My Booking?

No. Once your booking is complete, cancellations, refunds, or changes are generally not allowed unless the screening itself is cancelled.

If you need assistance, contact the theater where you purchased your ticket as soon as possible.

⚠️ Important: Double-check your theater, movie, date, showtime, seats, and ticket type before completing your purchase.

Can I Enter After the Movie Starts?

109 Cinemas may refuse late entry after the main feature has started to avoid disturbing other guests.

If you’re running late, contact the theater if possible. Please note that refunds are generally not available if you miss your screening.

Tip: Arriving 15–20 minutes early gives you plenty of time to enter the theater without rushing.

FAQ

Note: This guide covers the standard 109 Cinemas booking website. 109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku uses a different website and also offers a dedicated English website.