National Film Archive - Free Audio Guide

The National Film Archive of Japan (国立映画アーカイブ), located in Tokyo, is Japan’s principal institution dedicated to the preservation, study and exhibition of cinematic heritage. Established to rescue and conserve film materials, it houses extensive collections — rare silent‑era prints, early animation, newsreels and works by landmark directors such as Ozu, Kurosawa and Mizoguchi — and supports restoration, research and public programming. The archive’s facilities include screening theaters, exhibition galleries and conservation laboratories where curatorial and technical specialists restore and catalogue holdings. Culturally, it functions as a centre for understanding Japan’s social history and artistic evolution through moving images. For visitors it maintains regular opening hours, a structured admission system with concessions, and accessible facilities; research services and educational displays further contextualize the collections.