Kobe Planet Film Archive, Film museum and cinema archive in Nagata-ku, Japan.
Kobe Planet Film Archive is a museum and cinema in Nagata-ku that holds a large collection documenting Japanese film history. The facility features a screening room and preserves tens of thousands of films, books, and related materials.
The institution began in 1974 from a personal film collection and grew into one of Japan's largest private film archives. Over time, many rare and lost films were recovered and restored from this gathering.
The archive protects Japanese films that might otherwise be forgotten, keeping them available for future generations to discover. You can see how the collection goes beyond mainstream cinema to honor less visible works.
The screening room is small and operates during weekends and special events, so planning ahead helps you catch a showing. Arriving early allows you to browse the collection and get oriented before the screening begins.
Among the holdings is a film from 1895 showing the Grand Sumo Ryogoku, one of the earliest recordings of Japanese sporting events. This rare discovery reveals how early cinema was already capturing moments from daily life.
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