If you’ve heard that Japanese theaters are too pricey, and you can’t fathom sinking so much hard-won yen into local films, remember that there are a handful of discounts that greatly reduce your investment (usually from ¥2,000 to ¥1,300). Look for 特別料金 column. There are many choices.

Below is a brief guide to the regular discounts; be sure to check also with your favorite cinemas, since they often have their own unique discounts as well.

FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH
All Tokyo cinemas sell tickets for ¥1,300 on the first day of each month. Look for 毎月1日 or ファーストデイ on the cinema’s website.

LADIES’ DAY
Wednesday is ladies’ day at many cinemas, which usually offer tickets to females for ¥1,000 - ¥1,300. Look for 水曜女性 or レディースデイ on the cinema’s website.

MARRIED COUPLES’ DISCOUNT
If you’re married and you or your spouse is over 50, you both get in for a discount rate, usually ¥2,200 to ¥2,600 for a couple. Look for いずれかが50歳以上の夫婦ペア or 夫婦50割引 on the cinema’s website.

SENIOR/STUDENT DISCOUNTS
One great perk of being over 60 to 70 or under 19 is that you can buy discounted tickets at most theaters. To be eligible as a high-school student, you must come with two friends. Look for シニア割引/学生割引 on the cinema’s website. Check with your theaters.

CINEMA DAY
Several cinemas offer discounts on their own designated Cinema Day. The 2nd-largest cinema chain owner, Toho, sells tickets for ¥1,300 on the 14th of each month, for example, to celebrate its founding date. Look for シネマデイ on the cinema’s website.

LATE/EARLY SCREENINGS
Many theaters offer discounts for late shows (usually after 9 pm), and some offer morning-show discounts. Look for 早朝/深夜割引 on the cinema’s website.

MEMBERS’ DISCOUNTS
A number of multiplexes and independent theaters offer special prices to their members, so if you go often to the following theaters, here are examples of their discounts:

Aeon Ciema: ¥1,500
Cinemart Shinjuku: ¥1,200
CineSwitch: Women's day ¥950, members: ¥1,200 to ¥1,400
Kadokawa+BicCamera/Sanseidos: ¥1,200 to ¥1,700
Shinjuku Musashinokan/Cinema Qualité: ¥300 off
Shinjuku Wald 9: ¥1,400
SMT members: Free ticket for each 6 movies watched
Theatre Cinema Group TCG: ¥1,200 to ¥1,400
Toho Cinemas CineMileage: Free ticket for each 6 movies watched
United Cinema Club-Spice: ¥800 to ¥1,500

SHAREHOLDERS’ TICKETS
If you happen to own stock in the following cinema operators, you can get special perks like free tickets: Kadokawa, Musashino, Shochiku, Subaru, Toei, Toho, Tokyo Theatre, Tokyu.