横浜日劇, Cinema building in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Japan.
Yokohama Nichigeki was a cinema building in Naka Ward, Yokohama, known for the large illuminated CINEMASCOPE NICHIGEKI sign that ran across its main facade. The building contained screening rooms and stood as a clear reference point along the street in the entertainment district.
The cinema opened in December 1953, first showing Japanese films before switching to international releases once CinemaScope technology was installed. It stayed open for over 50 years before closing in February 2005.
The theater was used as a filming location for the Private Detective Hama Mike series, which brought scenes of Yokohama street life to the screen. For many locals, watching those scenes made the building feel like a character in the city's own story.
The cinema no longer exists, as the building was demolished in 2007, so there is nothing to visit on site today. Those interested in its legacy can look for the preserved neon sign, which was donated to the city of Yokohama after demolition.
The very last film shown before the building was torn down was Cinema Paradiso, a story about the closure of a beloved movie house. The large illuminated facade sign was saved and donated to the city of Yokohama, making it one of the few physical traces of the building that still exists.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
