Why Tokyo — and Why Renting Locally Makes Sense
Tokyo is one of the most visually compelling cities on the planet. From neon-drenched streetscapes in Shibuya to serene temple grounds and ultramodern architecture, it offers international production teams an extraordinary range of backdrops. But shipping your own gear across borders — dealing with customs carnets, insurance complications, and the risk of damage in transit — can turn a straightforward shoot into a logistical headache.
Renting locally solves most of those problems. Tokyo’s rental market is mature, well-stocked, and increasingly accessible to foreign crews. The catch? Much of the industry still operates primarily in Japanese, and business customs around booking, pickup windows, and payment can differ from what you’re used to in Los Angeles, London, or Sydney.
This guide profiles three reputable Tokyo-based rental houses, each with a different strength: one built specifically to serve international clients, one offering the deepest equipment catalog in the city, and one specializing in drone and one-stop production packages. We’ll close with practical tips to help your rental experience go smoothly.
1. Light Up Co., Ltd. — The International Crew’s First Call
Overview
Founded in 1985 and based in Nishiazabu, Minato-ku — a short walk from Roppongi — Light Up has spent nearly four decades building one of Japan’s most comprehensive rental inventories. What sets them apart for visiting crews is simple: they are set up to work with you in your language. Their staff handles inquiries in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean, and their website has a dedicated English-language section with pricing and booking information.
Equipment Highlights
- Camera systems: ARRI, RED, Sony, Blackmagic, Canon — covering cinema, broadcast, and documentary workflows
- Lighting & grip: Profoto, plus a broad range of professional film lighting
- Aerial & stabilization: DJI drones and gimbals
- Catalog depth: Over 200 brands in stock, so you can build a full kit from a single supplier
Beyond Rentals: Full Production Support
Light Up is more than a gear warehouse. They offer crew dispatch, location scouting, transport coordination, and studio access — essentially functioning as a production services company for visiting teams. Two in-house studios are available:
- Ryu Studio Shinonome — a general-purpose shooting stage
- Studio Paddock — purpose-built for car and automotive photography
For productions that span multiple countries in Asia or Europe, Light Up coordinates internationally through Sharpen Studio, with established partnerships in China, Italy, and across Europe.
LGS — On-Set Grip & Transport Service
Light Up also operates a dedicated Filming Grip Service (LGS) — a logistics offering that goes beyond simply handing you equipment at a counter. LGS provides specialized transport vehicles with professional drivers to deliver and manage rental gear on set. The service is designed to work in close coordination with your lighting and camera departments, ensuring equipment arrives where it’s needed, when it’s needed. For international crews unfamiliar with Tokyo’s narrow streets and strict parking regulations, having a dedicated grip transport team can be a significant advantage. Details are available on Light Up’s LGS page.
Practical Info for Visiting Crews
- Pickup hours: Weekdays, 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM (plan your shoot day accordingly)
- Returns: By noon the following day
- Payment: Visa and Mastercard confirmed; other major cards may be accepted — confirm when booking
- Language: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean
- Website: lightup-rental.co.jp/english
Bottom line: If this is your first time renting in Tokyo and you don’t have a Japanese-speaking fixer on your team, Light Up is the safest starting point. The multilingual staff and international payment options remove the two biggest friction points foreign crews typically face.
2. Toyo Rental (東洋レンタル) — The Deep Catalog
Overview
Operating since 1986 from Jingumae, Shibuya-ku — in the Harajuku/Kita-Sando area — Toyo Rental is a fixture of Tokyo’s professional production community. Their inventory is among the most extensive in the city, and they keep current with the latest flagship cinema cameras and specialty rigging. If you need a specific high-end body or an obscure piece of grip equipment, Toyo likely has it.
Equipment Highlights
- Cinema cameras: ARRI ALEXA 35, RED V-RAPTOR, Sony VENICE 2, Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K, Canon C500 Mark II
- Stabilization & movement: DJI Ronin 2 gimbals, cranes, sliders, car mounts
- Special effects: Fog machines and atmospheric equipment
- Accessories: A deep bench of monitors, wireless video, batteries, and rigging hardware
Sample Pricing
To give you a sense of Tokyo market rates:
- ARRI ALEXA 35: approximately ¥70,000/day
- RED KOMODO: approximately ¥25,000/day
Multi-day discounts are available — always ask when booking a run longer than two or three days.
Ordering & Logistics
Toyo Rental operates a web-based ordering system, which makes browsing inventory and placing requests relatively straightforward even if you’re working across time zones. They also offer a delivery service for domestic corporate clients, which can be a real advantage if you’re shooting on location and don’t want to arrange transport from Shibuya to your set. However, since this service is primarily intended for Japan-based companies, international crews should confirm eligibility in advance when inquiring about a booking.
The Language Barrier
Here’s the important caveat: Toyo Rental’s website and primary operations are in Japanese only. The ordering system, equipment descriptions, and customer communication all assume fluency in Japanese. For international crews, this means you’ll almost certainly want to work through a local fixer or production coordinator who can handle the booking, confirm technical specs, and manage pickup and return logistics on your behalf.
Practical Info
- Location: Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (near Harajuku/Kita-Sando Station)
- Delivery: Available for domestic corporate clients — international crews should confirm eligibility in advance
- Multi-day rates: Discounts offered for extended rentals
- Language: Japanese (fixer recommended)
- Website: toyo-rental.co.jp
Bottom line: Toyo Rental is the go-to when your equipment list is demanding — flagship cinema cameras, specialty rigs, or unusual grip and effects gear. Budget for a bilingual coordinator to handle the transaction.
3. Y.D.S. (有限会社 Y.D.S.) — Drones, Crews, and One-Stop Production
Overview
Based in Shinjuku and founded in 2005, Y.D.S. is a smaller, leaner operation — six employees — but don’t let the size fool you. They’ve carved out a niche as a one-stop production shop that bundles equipment rental with video production, CG work, crew staffing, drone services, and live streaming. Their client roster includes work on Niconico live events, DREAM MMA broadcasts, GACKT productions, and various Japanese television programs.
Equipment Highlights
Y.D.S. is particularly strong in the drone and aerial department:
- DJI Inspire 3 with Zenmuse X9-8K camera — cinema-grade aerial capture
- DJI MAVIC 3 — versatile for scouting, B-roll, and lighter aerial work
- Authorized dealer for DJI, HOLLYLAND, SmallRig, and PILOTFLY
Beyond drones, they offer general camera and production equipment, though their catalog is not as deep as Toyo Rental’s or Light Up’s. Where Y.D.S. excels is in packaging gear with services.
The One-Stop Advantage
If you’re coming to Tokyo for a shoot and need to assemble everything from scratch — camera gear, a drone operator, a small crew, post-production, and live streaming capability — Y.D.S. can bundle the entire package. For smaller productions or segments of a larger project where you need a self-contained local unit, this approach can save significant coordination time.
The Language Barrier
Like Toyo Rental, Y.D.S. operates entirely in Japanese. Their website is Japanese only, and communication will need to be conducted in Japanese. A local fixer or bilingual producer is essential.
Practical Info
- Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo
- Services: Equipment rental, video/CG production, crew staffing, drone operation, live streaming
- Speciality: DJI drone systems and aerial cinematography
- Language: Japanese (fixer essential)
- Website: yds-net.com
Bottom line: Choose Y.D.S. when you need drone capability with an experienced operator, or when you want a compact local team that can handle gear, crew, and production under one roof.
Practical Tips for Renting Equipment in Tokyo
Regardless of which rental house you choose, keep these points in mind when planning your Tokyo shoot.
Hire a Fixer or Local Coordinator
Unless you’re working exclusively with Light Up (and even then, for complex shoots), having a Japanese-speaking production coordinator on your team is not optional — it’s essential. Beyond translation, a good fixer understands local business etiquette, can negotiate on your behalf, and will handle the dozens of small logistical details that differ from Western production norms.
Book Early
High-demand items — ARRI ALEXA 35 bodies, popular lens sets, large lighting packages — can be booked out weeks in advance, especially during peak production seasons (spring cherry blossom shoots, autumn foliage, year-end commercial rushes). Reach out a minimum of two to three weeks before your shoot dates; a month or more is better for large packages.
Understand Payment Expectations
Credit card acceptance varies across Tokyo rental houses. Some may require bank transfer (furikomi) in advance, which can be complicated from overseas accounts. Clarify payment terms early, and have your fixer confirm the exact process.
Confirm Insurance Coverage
Check whether your existing production insurance covers rented equipment in Japan, and bring documentation to prove it. If your policy doesn’t extend internationally, ask the rental house about their damage waiver options.
Respect Pickup and Return Windows
Japanese businesses operate on precise schedules. If the pickup window is 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM, showing up at 6:45 PM is not a minor inconvenience — it may mean you don’t get your gear. Build buffer time into your schedule.
Check Voltage and Power Standards
Japan uses 100V electricity at 50Hz in Tokyo. Most professional film equipment handles this without issue, but verify compatibility if you’re mixing rented and personal gear.
Drone Regulations
Japan has strict drone regulations enforced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Flying in densely populated areas (most of central Tokyo), near airports, or above 150 meters requires advance permission. Start the application process well before your shoot dates.
Choosing the Right Rental House
- Smooth, English-friendly experience with broad gear and production support: Light Up Co., Ltd.
- Specific high-end cinema cameras or specialty grip and rigging: Toyo Rental
- Drone services, a small local crew, or an all-in-one production package: Y.D.S.
Many international productions working in Tokyo use more than one rental house on the same project. Don’t feel locked into a single source.
Tokyo’s production infrastructure is world-class. With some advance planning, a reliable local coordinator, and the right rental partners, your shoot can go as smoothly here as it would in any major production hub.
