Otaru Hanazono Theater

The Otaru Hanazono Theater opened its doors as a Toho-premiere theater on June 8, 1954 housing 370 seats in a one-story wooden and mortar building with some parts being two stories, with the theater having a total floor area of ​​549m2. It was the first ever movie theater in Hokkaido to have installations of Kaneland vinyl seating. It was directly operated by Sugai Kogyo alongside its original manager Asatsuma Santaro.

As of June 5, 1958, there are a total of 23 theaters that were members of the Otaru Film Association. They were divided into premiere theaters, which screened films immediately after release, second-run theaters, which screened films 13 weeks after release, third-run theaters, which screened films 23 weeks after release, and special theaters, which screened films 46 weeks after release. There were seven first-run theaters: Shochiku, Spal, Hanazono, Chuo, Toei, Eigeki, and Denki. Six second-run theaters were Wakamatsu, Palace, Nikkatsu, Fuji, Temiya, and Bunka. Six third-run theaters were Shinsei, Irifune, Yamato, Kin'ei, Spal Chika, and Takashima. Four extra theaters were Kotose, Miyako, Marui News, and Theater Daiya.

On June 15, 1960, the Otaru Hanazono Theater became a first-run foreign house, becoming one of three foreign film theaters in Otaru. It was briefly known as Otaru Nikkatsu Theater during its later years, before reverting back to its original name in August 1976.

The Otaru Hanazono Theater closed for the final time in 1991 after running out of business.

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