The free outdoor cinema festival, ”PICNIC CINEMA,” is set to take place from June 6 (Friday) to July 6 (Sunday) at Ebisu Garden Place in Tokyo.
The event transforms the Center Square of Ebisu Garden Place into a vibrant movie-watching spot, featuring a 300-square-meter artificial grass area and a massive 320-inch screen (measuring 4.2 meters high by 6.9 meters wide). Visitors can relax and enjoy films in a picnic-style atmosphere, making for a unique cinematic experience under the open sky.
Produced by Kino Igloo, a renowned traveling cinema that tours across Japan, the festival has seen remarkable attendance. In its 2024 edition, approximately 2,000 people attended each screening, with a total of about 24,000 attendees over the course of the festival.
This year’s ”PICNIC CINEMA” promises to be another highlight of Tokyo’s summer cultural scene, combining outdoor leisure with the magic of cinema.
In 2025, under the theme “Opening Hearts,” the festival has selected films that carry strong messages and capture the emotional turbulence people feel in today’s world — a time when the future feels uncertain and many tend to close off their hearts. A total of 15 films, including ‘We Made a Beautiful Bouquet,’ ‘Amélie,’ ‘Robot Dreams,’ and ‘Billy Elliot,’ will be screened, with one film shown each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday throughout the festival period. The screening schedule is as follows.
PICNIC CINEMA Screening Schedule
- June 6 (Fri)
‘We Made a Beautiful Bouquet’ (2021)- June 7 (Sat)
‘Her’ (2013)- June 8 (Sun)
‘Riddle of Fire’ (2023)- June 13 (Fri)
‘Stop Making Sense 4K Restoration’ (1984)- June 14 (Sat)
‘Amélie’ (2001)- June 15 (Sun)
‘The Florida Project’ (2017)- June 20 (Fri)
‘I Am Sam’ (2001)- June 21 (Sat)
’18×2 Beyond Youthful Days’ (2024)- June 22 (Sun)
‘Thelma & Louise’ (1991)- June 27 (Fri)
‘Amazing Grac’ (2018)- June 28 (Sat)
‘Funny Face’ (1957)- June 29 (Sun)
‘Robot Dreams’ (2023)- July 4 (Fri)
”I Like Movies” (2022)- July 5 (Sat)
‘April Story’ (1998)- July 6 (Sun)
‘Billy Elliot’ (Digital Remastered Edition) (2000)
For the first time at this event, restaurants, cafes, and shops inside the venue will offer limited-time takeout menus during the festival. Visitors can enjoy picnic-friendly dishes, such as one-handed foods, specially created by each store. Additionally, ten past winners of the “Ebisu Chefs’ Specialties That Pair Perfectly with Yebisu Beer Grand Prix” will set up weekly pop-up stalls in the Clock Plaza. Starting June 11 (Wednesday), “YEBISU BREWERY TOKYO” within Ebisu Garden Place will release a limited-edition beer themed around movies called “1911U: A Hop Odyssey.”
Besides the screenings, the festival will also feature various activities like yoga sessions, held every year, allowing visitors to enjoy an open outdoor space in the heart of the city. More details will be announced gradually on the event’s official website.
PICNIC CINEMA
◆ Period: June 6 (Fri) – July 6 (Sun), 2025
Held on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays during the above period
◆ Time: 19:30 (same start time for all screening days)
◆ Screening Schedule:
June 6 (Fri)
‘We Made a Beautiful Bouquet’ (2021)
June 7 (Sat)
‘Her’ (2013)
June 8 (Sun)
‘Riddle of Fire’ (2023)
June 13 (Fri)
‘Stop Making Sense 4K Restoration’ (1984)
June 14 (Sat)
‘Amélie’ (2001)
June 15 (Sun)
‘The Florida Project’ (2017)
June 20 (Fri)
‘I Am Sam’ (2001)
June 21 (Sat)
’18×2 Beyond Youthful Days’ (2024)
June 22 (Sun)
‘Thelma & Louise’ (1991)
June 27 (Fri)
‘Amazing Grac’ (2018)
June 28 (Sat)
‘Funny Face’ (1957)
June 29 (Sun)
‘Robot Dreams’ (2023)
July 4 (Fri)
”I Like Movies” (2022)
July 5 (Sat)
‘April Story’ (1998)
July 6 (Sun)
‘Billy Elliot’ (Digital Remastered Edition) (2000)
PICNIC YOGA
Morning and evening yoga sessions will be held in an open plaza with artificial turf.
Enjoy a relaxing experience for both mind and body while feeling nature in the heart of the city—morning sunlight or the evening breeze.
Cooperation: Gran Size Ebisu Garden
◆ Period: June 10 (Tue) – July 2 (Wed), 2025
*Held 10 times during the period
◆ Schedule:
[Morning Yoga] 7:30 AM
June 12 (Thu), June 18 (Wed), June 24 (Tue)
[Evening Yoga] 7:00 PM
June 10 (Tue), June 16 (Mon), June 19 (Thu), June 23 (Mon), June 26 (Thu), July 1 (Tue), July 2 (Wed)
◆ Participation Notes:
The event may be photographed for future promotional use. Thank you for your understanding
Participation is limited to about 100 people on a first-come, first-served basis
In case of cancellation due to bad weather or other reasons, notifications will be posted on the official Ebisu Garden Place website, Facebook, and Instagram:
Morning Yoga cancellations will be announced by the evening before
Evening Yoga cancellations will be announced by noon on the day of the event
Reception opens 30 minutes before the session; a spot will be reserved after check-in
Yoga mats are available to borrow but in limited quantity, so please bring your own if possible
Pets are not allowed. When attending with children, please ensure they do not walk around the area to avoid disruption
