CINE-FI Lalaport PIT Drive-In
2 Chome-1-1 Hamacho,
Funabashi,
Chiba
273-8530
2 Chome-1-1 Hamacho,
Funabashi,
Chiba
273-8530
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The CINE-FI Lalaport PIT Drive-In was the second drive-in theatre to operate in Japan, opening in August 1981 as a 24/7 weather-permitting drive-in theatre in the Funabashi area of Chiba.
Unfortunately there are some strict rules, as cars and vans were able to enter and the fee was ¥1500 ($10.13) per person per car and ¥3000 ($20.26) for two or more people per car with a discount for three or more people. Screenings were held seven-days-a-week from 7 p.m., and were canceled on days with either fog or heavy rain.
As the automobile-oriented society spread, there were more than 20 drive-in theatres in Japan which the most reaching their peak around 1990, but unfortunately because of the rise of multiplexes, physical limitations such as only being able to show movies in the evening, being dependent on weather conditions, and the promotion of idling stop, and declined.
The drive-in itself was also one of the last, but not the true last. It closed on October 31, 2007.
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50sSNIPES
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This was actually the second ever drive-in theater to operate in Japan. The first one, the Western Drive-In in Tokyo, opened by Toho in November 1962. However, this was the first drive-in to be operated by Shochiku.
Actual opening date is August 16, 1981 with a capacity of 208 cars. It was twinned on February 16, 1993 when it partially relocated to the adjacent Wangan Minami Parking Lot for a racing track but kept the same address, and expanded its car capacity to 430 cars (with 250 cars in Screen 1 and 180 cars in Screen 2). This was due to the change to a paid parking lot.
Correction: When the drive-in was relocated to the adjacent Wangan Minami Parking Lot and twinned afterward, the old drive-in continued to operate until February 16, 1993. Meanwhile, at the newer location, the first screen opened on January 16, 1993, while the older location closed the following month, and the second screen opened on March 13, 1993. At the time, it was managed by both Daijiro Kuwata and Tetsuo Mikami, and as mentioned above is Shochiku operated.
It was also marked one of the largest drive-in theaters ever in Japan at the time, housing 430 cars from both screens (250 in Screen 1 and 180 in Screen 2). The total capacity of the drive-in is an average size of a normal drive-in theater in the United States.
After its relocation, the original drive-in site that operated from its August 16, 1981 opening with 208 cars until its relocation in February 1993 became a parking lot.