Top Cinema Equipment Rental Houses in Tokyo & Osaka: Camera Gear Lists, Phone Numbers & Complete Guide

Whether shooting a commercial on the neon streets of Tokyo or capturing a narrative indie feature across Osaka and Kyoto, finding a reliable local camera rental house is critical for foreign and domestic filmmakers in Japan.

Japan's equipment rental industry is highly specialized, spanning full-service cinema houses that outfit major studio feature films to agile storefront rental shops ideal for run-and-gun documentary and commercial crews.

Here is our curated guide to the top 5 professional camera and equipment rental companies in Tokyo and Osaka, complete with gear rosters, direct phone numbers, physical locations, and vital rental protocols.

1. Sanwa Eizaisha (Sanwa Pro Light / Tokyo & Osaka)

Overview & Reputation

The undisputed titan of Japanese cinema and commercial film rentals. Sanwa equips the majority of domestic blockbusters, television dramas, and high-end commercials. Beyond an encyclopedic collection of digital cinema bodies and anamorphic glass, Sanwa operates heavy grip equipment, Chapman dollies, Technocranes, and dedicated production generator trucks. In addition to their Tokyo headquarters, they maintain a major facility in Osaka.

Notable Equipment Inventory

• Cinema Cameras: ARRI ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, ALEXA Mini, AMIRA; Sony VENICE 2, FX9, FX6; RED V-RAPTOR XL 8K VV, KOMODO-X
• Cine Lenses: ARRI/Zeiss Master Primes, Signature Primes, Cooke S4/i & Anamorphic/i, Angénieux Optimo Ultra 12x, Canon Sumire Primes, Leica Summicron-C, rare vintage primes
• Grip & Support: O'Connor 2575D / 1030D fluid heads, Ronford-Baker tripods, Chapman Peewee / Hustler dollies, Technocrane, Steadicam, DJI Ronin 2
• Lighting & Power: Full ARRI SkyPanel packages, high-wattage HMIs, tungsten lighting, specialized generator trucks and production support vans

Contact Details & Locations

• Tokyo Headquarters (Chiyoda-ku)
  • Address: 5-5 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083 (Sanwa Kojimachi Building)
  • Phone: +81-3-5210-3801 (Rental Dept)
  • Fax: +81-3-5210-2260
  • Business Hours: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Open year-round; 24/7 return lockbox available)
• Osaka Branch (Kita-ku)
  • Address: 5-3-1 Toyosaki, Kita-ku, Osaka 531-0072 (Sanwa Toyosaki Building)
  • Phone: +81-6-6375-3838
  • Transit: Steps from Osaka Metro Midosuji Line Nakatsu Station; near Hankyu Umeda Station
  • Business Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Website: https://www.sanwa-group.com/

2. NAC Image Technology (NAC Rental / Tokyo & Osaka)

Overview & Reputation

The official master distributor of ARRI in Japan and the exclusive representative of Vision Research Phantom high-speed cameras. If your shoot demands pristine 4K 1000fps ultra-slow-motion liquid capture or the latest ARRI ALEXA 35 camera package with calibrated factory-certified optical glass, NAC is the gold standard.

Notable Equipment Inventory

• High-Speed & Cinema Bodies: Vision Research Phantom Flex 4K (up to 1000fps in 4K), Phantom vEO 4K, ARRI ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, ALEXA 35 Live multicam systems
• Optics: ARRI Signature Primes, Signature Zooms, Master Anamorphics, Zeiss Supreme Primes, Cooke Panchro/i Classics, Leitz Cine Primes
• Accessories & Rigs: ARRI Hi-5 / WCU-4 wireless follow focus systems, ARRI Trinity 2 / Artemis 2 hybrid mechanical camera stabilization, SmallHD 4K client monitors

Contact Details & Locations

• Tokyo Rental Dept (Minato-ku, Akasaka)
  • Address: 1F Akasaka Building, 4-13-13 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
  • Phone: +81-3-3583-7902
  • Fax: +81-3-3583-7906
  • Hours: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed Sundays & Japanese National Holidays)
• Kansai Branch (Shin-Osaka)
  • Address: 5F Shin-Osaka Ueno Toyo Building, 7-4-17 Nishinakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka 532-0003
  • Phone: +81-6-6304-5921
  • Transit: 5-minute walk from JR/Metro Shin-Osaka Station
• Website: https://www.nacinc.jp/

3. APEX RENTALS (Video Apex / Tokyo & Osaka Locations)

Overview & Reputation

The premier choice for independent filmmakers, music video directors, documentary crews, and commercial videographers. APEX features an easy-to-use 24/7 online booking system with live inventory transparency. Individual creators and visiting foreign production teams can register smoothly, with convenient in-store pickup or direct courier delivery.

Notable Equipment Inventory

• Cameras: Sony FX3, FX6, FX9, BURANO, α7S III, α7 IV; Canon EOS C70, C300 Mark III, R5 C; Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K, Pocket 6K Pro; Panasonic Lumix S1H
• Lenses: Sony G Master series (16-35, 24-70, 70-200 f/2.8 GM II), Canon RF L-series glass, Sigma Cine Primes, DZOFILM Vespid Primes, Sirui Anamorphic lenses
• Gimbals & Grip: DJI Ronin 4D 6K/8K, DJI RS 3 Pro / RS 4 Pro, Sachtler FSB 8, Libec & Manfrotto video tripods
• G&E & Audio: Aputure 600d Pro, 300d II, Nanlite Pavotubes, Sony UWP-D21 wireless lavs, Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun mics, Zoom F6/F8n multi-track audio recorders

Contact Details & Locations

• Osaka Store (Kita-ku)
  • Address: 1-23 Kobai-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0038
  • Phone: +81-6-6358-6060
  • Transit: 2-min walk from JR Osaka-Temmangu Station; 6-min walk from Minamimorimachi Station
  • Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM (Open weekends & holidays)
• Key Tokyo Locations
  • Shinjuku Store: 1F Shinjuku i-Land Tower, 6-5-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku (Tel: +81-3-5325-0600)
  • Shibuya Store: 1F Shindaiso Building No. 3, 2-10-12 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku (Tel: +81-3-5459-3350)
  • Ginza Store: 1-14-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku (Tel: +81-3-5250-7110)
• Website: https://www.apex106.com/

4. ARC SYSTEM (Setagaya, Tokyo)

Overview & Reputation

Based in Setagaya, ARC SYSTEM is Japan's foremost specialist in motion picture lighting and heavy grip. Working hand-in-hand with major studios like Toho Studios and Nikkatsu, ARC SYSTEM is the default choice for Japanese cinema gaffers and key grips needing stadium-scale HMIs, specialized cranes, and power generator trucks.

Notable Equipment Inventory

• Lighting Fixtures: ARRI SkyPanel S60-C / S360-C, ARRI Orbiter, Astera Titan & Helios LED tubes, Kino Flo Celeb, heavy HMIs (18kW, 12kW, 4kW), Aputure Electro Storm high-output LEDs
• Grip & Rigs: Panther dollies, Fisher 10 & 11 camera dollies, camera cranes, car-mount suction rigs, C-stands, flag sets, butterfly overhead frames

Contact Details & Locations

• Address: 2-18-1 Tamagawadai, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-0096
• Phone: +81-3-3708-2101
• Transit: 8-minute walk from Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line Yoga Station
• Website: https://www.arc-system.co.jp/

5. Map Rental (Shinjuku, Tokyo)

Overview & Reputation

Located just 1 minute on foot from Shinjuku Station's west exit, Map Rental is famous for its immediate walk-in convenience and transparent membership (no security deposits required with verified identification and credit card). Perfect for picking up backup bodies, fast primes, or lighting fixtures right before an urban run-and-gun shoot.

Notable Equipment Inventory

• Mirrorless & Cinema Bodies: Sony α7S III, FX3, Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nikon Z8/Z9, Leica SL2, native Sony FE, Canon RF, and Nikon Z prime & zoom lenses
• Lighting & Flashes: Profoto B10X / A10 strobes, Godox, Nanlite, Aputure portable LED fixtures
• Tripods & Gimbals: Gitzo carbon tripods, Manfrotto, DJI RS 3 / RS 4 series stabilizers

Contact Details & Locations

• Address: 6F Ilog Building, 1-13-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023
• Phone: +81-3-5334-5770
• Transit: 1-minute walk from Shinjuku Station West/South Exits
• Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Open daily except New Year holidays)
• Website: https://www.maprental.com/

Essential Protocols for Renting Film Equipment in Japan

1. Always Schedule a "Prep Day" (Kizai-dashi)

When hiring cinema packages from high-end houses like Sanwa or NAC, never dispatch gear directly to set without checkout. The Japanese industry protocol is to send your 1st AC and focus puller to the rental house's test bay the afternoon before principal photography to verify flange focal depth, calibrate wireless focus motors, and check video feed latency.

2. Verify Insurance Coverage and Deductibles

High-end cinema equipment is covered under Japanese commercial inland marine insurance (動産総合保険). Confirm with the rental house whether insurance is included in the daily rate and clarify the deductible (免責金額), which generally ranges between ¥30,000 and ¥20,000 in case of accidental damage.

3. Use a Rigorous Gear Checklist to Prevent Loss

Lost accessories and proprietary adapters cause costly production downtime and security deposit disputes. Use our complimentary Film Equipment Checklist Template (Excel & PDF) on your on-set clipboard for prep, load-in, and rental check-in.

Related Production Resources

• On-set gear inspection: Free Camera Equipment Checklist Template Download
• Production financial budgeting: Free Film Budget Sheet Template Download
• Daily shoot call sheets: Free Call Sheet Template Download (Excel & PDF)
• Filming locations across Japan: CREA Verified Location Directory
• Browse all resources: CREA Production Templates Hub