Best movies like Hanamizuki
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Sae (Yui Aragaki) is a high school student who is studying hard for her college entrance exams. She lost her father when she was very young and so lives with her mother Ryoko (Hiroko Yakushimaru) in Hokkaido, Japan. Her father Kemimichi (Arata) once planted a dogwood tree in their garden after he found out he had a terminal disease and could not watch Sae grow up. She hopes to enter a university in Tokyo. She then meets Kouhei (Toma Ikuta), who attends a specialized high school teaching fishery. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather as a fisherman. These two young people meet and have a long distance relationship. Although their love is strong it does not last. 10 years later these two people have a miracle.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 128 min
Plot tags: romantic, shoujo, sentimental, sincere, touching, romantic drama, crying, allegory, thinking
Best tv shows and movies like Hanamizuki (2010):
Similar in 88%
Yellow Elephant (2013)
Plot Summary:
Married couple Aiko Tsumari and Ayumu Muko live a happy and peaceful life. Aiko is bit naive, while Ayumu works as a not so popular novelist. One day, a letter arrives for Ayumu. Because of this letter, the couple become estranged.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 245
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 131 min
Plot tags: romantic, uplifting
Similar in 75%
Virgin Snow (2007)
Plot Summary:
Min is a Korean boy moves to Japan with his father who is a potter. One day at a local shrine, he meets Nanae, a beautiful Japanese girl with stunning eyes who is aspiring to be a painter. Min falls in love at first sight and finds out that Nanae attends the school to which he has just transferred. Their friendship develops fast despite their cultural and language difference. When Min's grandmother falls ill, Min returns to Korea and Nanae is nowhere to be found. Had his true feelings for Nanae not been apparent to her? Why has Nanae disappeared without a word?.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 960
Genere: Romance
Country: Japan, South Korea
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: emotional, realistic, sentimental, psychological, captivating, romantic, sweet, romantic comedy, touching, serious
Similar in 81%
Your eyes tell (2020)
Plot Summary:
A tragic accident lead to Kaori's blindness, but she clings to life and the smaller pleasures it can still afford her. She meets Rui and begins to talk to him. Rui was once a promising kickboxer, but something happened in his past. Kaori's smile brings out a change in Rui. However, the two are connected in more than one way. Rui attempts to do what is right.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: psychological, sincere, atmospheric, emotional, melancholic, talky, crying
Similar in 79%
Radiance (2017)
Plot Summary:
The story follows the social intercourse between a cameraman, Masaya, with a lazy eye, and Misako who disconnects from the world.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan, France
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: sincere, art house, sentimental, thought provoking, captivating, disturbing, romantic drama, crying
Similar in 86%
The Tale of Iya (2013)
Plot Summary:
It was summer when a stranger from Tokyo arrived at “Iya”, where the riches of nature still abound. This young man, named Kudo, was willing to live his new, self-sufficient life. He was exhausted by city life, and believed this beautiful land would give him some rest. On the contrary, the reality was not as easy as he thought. There was a confliction between a local construction company and a group of nature conservationists. Farmers are trying to save their harvests from harmful animals such as deer and monkeys. People are fighting for their own purposes: to get their job, to save the environment, or to survive.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 363
Genere: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 169 min
Plot tags: silent, exciting, touching, captivating, contemplative, silent film
Similar in 82%
Halfway (2009)
Plot Summary:
In this high school romance Hiro is dismayed to learn her new love Shu will be going away to college in Tokyo. She asks him not to go.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 442
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: romantic, crying
Similar in 80%
Love and Lies (2017)
Plot Summary:
The Japanese government carries out a program to increase the birth rate in the country. Their program analyzes gene information from its residents and selects a marriage partner for them. Aoi Nisaka is a high school student. She is in a love triangle with childhood friend Yuto Shiba and Sosuke Takachiho. Sosuke Takachiho is appointed by the government to become her husband.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 258
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, captivating, romantic drama, cute, sweet
Similar in 90%
Clover (2014)
Plot Summary:
Saya Suzuki (Emi Takei) is an ordinary employee working at a hotel. She falls in love with her elite boss Susumu Tsuge (Tadayoshi Okura). Through their romance, Saya Suzuki grows as a person.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 245
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: romantic, captivating, shoujo, entertaining
Similar in 83%
Rainbow Song (2006)
Plot Summary:
Tomoya Kishida (Hayato Ichihara) is working as a staffer in a television studio when he hears about the death of his close friend, Aoi Sato (Juri Ueno). This sparks his recollection of the events in life they shared from meeting at a record store, shooting a short film as part of their university film club, to saying their last goodbyes. Though in love with each other, neither had the courage to confess their feelings before it was too late.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: romantic, light, touching, feel good, sweet, captivating, entertaining, sad, romantic drama, crying
Similar in 75%
The 8-Year Engagement (2017)
Plot Summary:
Hisashi and Mai are a happy couple in their 20s who are engaged to be married. But three months before their wedding, Mai becomes seriously ill. Her heart stops momentarily, and she falls into a deep coma. Hisashi visits Mai at the hospital every day before work. With no idea if or when she will ever awake, Mai’s parents encourage Hisashi to find someone else, but he refuses to give up and continues to pray for her recovery. As if his prayers are answered, Mai begins to regain consciousness several years later, and even utters a few words. But tragically, she has suffered brain damage and has no memory of Hisashi.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: romantic, touching, sincere, serious, romantic drama, crying, humorous, fun
Similar in 84%
Perfect World (2018)
Plot Summary:
Tsugumi Kawana (Hana Sugisaki) works at an interior design company. She happens to meet her first love Itsuki Ayukawa (Takanori Iwata) from her high school days. He is now an architect and in a wheelchair because of an accident. --asianwiki.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 167
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: sincere, captivating, crying
Similar in 84%
Colors of Wind (2017)
Plot Summary:
Yuri leaves Ryo with mysterious words. Ryo goes to Hokkaido knowing that his doppelganger magician is missing. Ryo realizes Yuri was also the magician’s lover and he learns magic. The story that crosses over two identities, illusion and magic.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 198
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing
Similar in 76%
Life Back Then (2011)
Plot Summary:
Kyohei Nagashima (Masaki Okada) has shut away the world. During his high school days he was the target of bullying and experienced horrifying moments. Now as a young adult Kyohei takes a new job. He works for a company that specializes in cleaning out the homes of recently deceased individuals. With his new job Kyohei meets co-worker Yuki (Nana Eikura). Yuki has also experienced a traumatizing event as a teen and has also shut herself away from the world. These two young people form a bond as they go through the homes of the recently departed people. They gradually open up to each other and in the process to the world. Yet, their fragile psyches may or may not be ready for such changes.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 142
Genere: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 131 min
Plot tags: sincere, captivating, road movie, crying, learning
Similar in 76%
After the Rain (2018)
Plot Summary:
Akira Tachibana is a 17-year-old high school student. She was once a promising athlete, but an injury has prevented her from taking part in track and field. One day, Akira Tachibana goes to a family restaurant and the manager talks to her in a tender voice. This makes Akira Tachibana begin working part-time at the restaurant. The manager is 45-year-old Masami Kondo and he is divorced with a child. Akira Tachibana falls in love with him. --asianwiki.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: sexy, sincere, touching, captivating, disturbing, manga, crying, seinen, romantic drama
Similar in 90%
Peach Girl (2017)
Plot Summary:
It's not easy being beautiful. The envy, the jealousy, the vicious rumors spread by your best friend. That's life for young Momo. While everyone thinks that Momo is a wild party girl, the reality is that she is shy and lonely. Can Momo confess her love to her classmate, Toji, or will her best friend Sae steal him away. It's a bittersweet drama of growing up and fitting in that will charm readers everywhere.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 622
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: light, romantic, touching, captivating, entertaining, manga, shoujo, crying, romantic drama
Similar in 90%
The Wings of the Kirin (2011)
Plot Summary:
A man's body is found under the statue of a winged kirin in the Nihombashi area of Tokyo. A suspect named Yashima has a car accident and falls unconscious while he is attempting to run away. Yashima's lover Kaori comes from Fukushima and tells detectives that he is absolutely not a criminal. Meanwhile, Detective Kyoichiro Kaga's (Hiroshi Abe) investigates and uncovers a point of contact between the dead body and Yashima. A hidden fact of the victim is revealed which even his children did not know about.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 873
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: tense, unusual plot structure, suspense, disturbing, detective, visually appealing
Similar in 86%
We Were There: First Love (2012)
Plot Summary:
"We Were There" follows the 10 year romance between Motoharu Yano (Toma Ikuta) & Nanami Takahashi (Yuriko Yoshitaka). During their high school days, Motoharu Yano was the most popular boy in school, but can't get over the death of his girlfriend from a car crash. Nanami Takahashi falls in love with Motoharu Yano and must deal with his inability to let go of the past.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 694
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: touching, sentimental, sincere, romantic, serious, shoujo, anime
Similar in 83%
My Brother Loves Me Too Much (2017)
Plot Summary:
Setoka Tachibana is a female high school student who has confessed her feelings to other boys 12 times, but has been rebuffed each time. Her older brother Haruka Tachibana cares for his younger sister deeply, but he keeps secret from her that they are not blood related. One day, Setoka's first love Takane Serikawa appears after many years and approaches her.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 326
Genere: Drama, Family, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: romantic, sentimental, light, sincere, feel good, captivating, entertaining
Similar in 82%
Make a Bow and Kiss (2017)
Plot Summary:
Based on the comic book by Yakko Kaga.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 175
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: light, romantic, sweet, captivating, crying, whimsical
Similar in 87%
A Story of Yonosuke (2012)
Plot Summary:
The year is 1987 and Japan is just reaching the peak of its economic success. Eighteen-year old Yonosuke Yokomichi arrives in Tokyo from Nagasaki. Ordinary in every way possible, he lives in a suburb far from the excitement of the big city and commutes to a university in the center of Tokyo.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 160 min
Plot tags: psychological, realistic, tense, captivating, independent film, crying
Similar in 77%
Drowning Love (2016)
Plot Summary:
Natsume Mochizuki works as a teen model in Tokyo, but she learns that she has to move to her father's hometown of Ukigumo. She is in a desperate situation because she can't do the things she wants to do in Ukigumo. One day, she meets Koichiro Hasegawa. He is the successor of the Hasegawa family. His family is wealthy and is respected in the area. Natsume Mochizuki and Koichiro Hasegawa become attracted to each other, but something changes their fate.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: sentimental, sincere, touching, psychological, uplifting, disturbing, sweet, shoujo, romantic drama, sexy
Similar in 81%
ReLIFE (2017)
Plot Summary:
Arata Kaizaki is 27-years-old and unemployed. He quit his prior job after working for the company for 3 months. Arata Kaizaki decides to take part in a research program. He takes medication that makes him look younger and he is to attend high school for a year. There, he falls in love with female high school student Chizuru Hishiro.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: romantic, sentimental, uplifting, touching, sweet, captivating, dorama, crying, intelligent, intellectual
Similar in 82%
We Were There: True Love (2012)
Plot Summary:
During the 2nd year of high school in the winter season, Yano (Toma Ikuta) transferred from Kushiro to Tokyo due to a family matter. Yano and Nanami (Yuriko Yoshitaka) promised to meet again. A couple of years later, Nanami is busy finding a job, while Yano's friend Takeuchi (Sousuke Takaoka) supports her. in the beginning, Yano and Nanami kept their relationship, even with the long distance between them, but Yano suddenly stops contacting Nanami.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 539
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, suspenseful, disturbing, romantic, shoujo, anime
Similar in 81%
From Me To You (2010)
Plot Summary:
Sawako Kuronuma, called Sadako by her classmates for her resemblance to the character from Ring, has always been feared and misunderstood because of her appearance. There are rumors that Sawako can see ghosts and curse people. However, despite her appearances, she is a sweet and timid girl who longs to be able to make friends with everyone and be liked by everyone else. When her idol, popular boy Kazehaya, begins talking with her, everything changes. She finds herself in a new world, trying to make friends and talking to different people and she can't thank Kazehaya enough for giving her these opportunities. Slowly, but surely, a sweet love is blossoming between the two as they will overtake any circumstance or clear obstacles in their way.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 128 min
Plot tags: shoujo, sentimental, psychological, sweet, captivating, romantic, dorama, manga, anime, romantic drama
Similar in 76%
Sky Of Love (2007)
Plot Summary:
During her freshman year in high school, Mika Tahara (Yui Aragaki) loses her cellular phone, but later finds it in the school library with the help of an unknown caller. Throughout the summer, Mika and the mysterious caller continue to communicate, and agree to meet each other once school starts again. The caller turns out to be Hiro (Haruma Miura), a delinquent-like boy Mika is initially afraid of, who shows proof of his identity as the caller with a photo of the sky on his cellular phone.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: romantic, sweet, bad ending, sentimental, sincere, shoujo, captivating, touching, romantic drama, sexy
Similar in 87%
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2015)
Plot Summary:
High school student Jinta (Nijiro Murakami) is a hikikomori and lives in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. One summer day, when Jinta is absorbed in a video game, a girl suddenly appears in front of him. The girl is Jinta's childhood friend Meiko (Minami Hamabe), but it seems impossible because Meiko died on a summer day. Meiko wears the same white dress when she died, but she looks a little taller. She tells Jinta that she has a wish and that's why she came back as a ghost, but Meiko can't remember what her wish was. To grant Meiko's wish, Jinta along with his friends Atsumu (Jun Shison), Naruko (Airi Matsui), Chiriko (Marie Iitoyo), Tetsudo (Yuta Takahata) and Meiko gather together for the first time in 7 years. Jinta soon realizes that he is the only one able to see Meiko.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 401
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: anime, light, unusual plot structure, captivating, contemplative, sad, crying
Similar in 90%
Say 'I Love You' (2014)
Plot Summary:
Mei Tachibana is a high school student. Due to a traumatic incident when she was a kid, Mei has been unable to make friends or have boyfriends. By mistake, Mei then injures the most popular male student named Yamato Kurosawa. Somehow, Yamato Kurosawa likes Mei Tachibana and tells everyone unilaterally that Mei is his friend. One day, Yamato Kurosawa saves Mei Tachibana from a stalker by kissing her. From that kiss, their love story begins.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: sexy, anime, light, sincere, shoujo, touching, captivating, romantic, romantic drama
Similar in 77%
Be with You (2004)
Plot Summary:
When two souls find one another, nothing can tear them apart. Widower Takumi (Shido Nakamura) lives a quiet life with his six-year-old son Yuji (Akashi Takei) after the loss of wife and mother Mio (Yuko Takeuchi). Yuji unfailingly remembers her promise to him: "I'll be with you again in a year's time, when the rains come." On the first anniversary of her passing, Takumi and Yuji are taking a walk in the woods when they come across a woman sheltering from a monsoon downpour. She bears an uncanny resemblance to Mio, but has no recollection of who she is or what she is doing there. Family life resumes from where they left off, while Takumi and Mio's memories of their first encounter in high school come flooding back. However, their new life together is interrupted by the discovery of Mio's old diary, which reveals the secrets of her past and how they must say goodbye once more in six weeks' time.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, romantic, sincere, enigmatic, sad, romantic drama, gloomy
Similar in 90%
I Give My First Love to You (2009)
Plot Summary:
As a child Takuma is diagnosed with a heart condition that requires care from a cardiologist. He soon becomes friends with his doctors young daughter Mayu while being treated at the hospital. One day Mayu overhears her father saying that Takumas condition is serious enough that he most likely wont live beyond the age of 20. Takuma isn't aware of this himself, however, so at 8-years-old he makes a promise to marry Mayu when they turn 20. Later in life, Takuma becomes aware that he wont be able to keep this promise and he begins distancing himself from Mayu in hopes of protecting her.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: touching, sincere, suspense, sentimental, romantic, uplifting, shoujo, sweet, romantic drama
Similar in 79%
New Life (2016)
Plot Summary:
Benjamin Morton's life changed forever the day he met the little girl next door. Ava was and always would be the girl of his dreams. From the innocence of a childhood friendship, through adolescent attraction, their love strengthens and grows. When life takes a turn neither of them expected, their entire future is called into question.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 983
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: romantic, sincere, rough, thought provoking, touching, captivating, christian film, independent film