The 2006 anime film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (時をかける少女), directed by Mamoru Hosoda and based on the novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui, remains one of Japan’s most beloved animated classics. The film is currently available on multiple streaming platforms in Japan, both as part of subscription plans and as a rental.

Where to Stream The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Subscription (Unlimited Viewing)

The following services include the film as part of their standard subscription:

• U-NEXT — ¥2,189/month; 31-day free trial with 500 bonus points on sign-up
• Amazon Prime Video — from ¥600/month; 30-day free trial
• Netflix — from ¥890/month (ad-supported standard plan); no free trial
• Hulu — ¥1,320/month; no free trial
• TELASA — ¥990/month; no free trial

Existing subscribers to any of these services can watch at no additional cost.

Rental Options

For viewers who only want to watch the film once without committing to a subscription:

• DMM TV — ¥440 rental; ¥550/month subscription; 14-day free trial with 550 bonus points on sign-up, which covers the rental fee entirely — the most cost-effective single-viewing option
• dAnime Store — ¥440 rental; ¥660/month subscription; first month free
• Lemino — ¥440 rental
• FOD — 400 coins rental
• TSUTAYA DISCAS — DVD home delivery; “定額レンタル8ダブル” plan at ¥2,200/month, up to 8 discs per month, shipping included with no return deadline

Note: Disney+ and ABEMA do not currently carry the film.

Story & Highlights

Second-year high school student Makoto Konno stumbles upon the ability to “time-leap” — physically jumping back in time — after an accident in her school’s science lab. She spends her days with two close friends: Chiaki Mamiya, a transfer student who arrived in spring, and Kosuke Tsuda, a bright and dependable classmate. Makoto wishes their carefree afternoons of baseball could last forever.

At first she uses her newfound power for trivial reasons — retaking a failed test, extending a karaoke session — but each trip back in time gradually ripples outward, affecting the people around her in ways she never anticipated.

Key Highlights

• Lighthearted time-leaping turns serious — The film opens with charming, comedic uses of the power before pivoting into something far more emotionally resonant.
• A summer to remember — Vivid depictions of summer skies and lazy after-school afternoons form the emotional backbone of the story.
• A landmark in Hosoda’s career — Screenplay by Satoko Okudera, who went on to collaborate with Hosoda on multiple subsequent films. The theme song “Garnet” by Hanako Oku lingers long after the credits roll.

Voice Cast

• Makoto Konno — Riisa Naka
• Chiaki Mamiya — Takuya Ishida
• Kosuke Tsuda — Mitsutaka Itakura
• Kazuko Yoshiyama (Makoto’s aunt) — Sachie Hara
• Yuri Hayakawa — Ayami Kakiuchi
• Kaho Fujitani — Mitsuki Tanimura

Production Details

• Theatrical release: July 15, 2006
• Original novel: Yasutaka Tsutsui
• Director: Mamoru Hosoda
• Screenplay: Satoko Okudera
• Character design: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
• Art director: Nizo Yamamoto
• Theme song: “Garnet” by Hanako Oku
• Animation studio: Madhouse

A special 4K revival screening was held in July 2026 to mark the film’s 20th anniversary.

Bottom Line

If you already subscribe to U-NEXT, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, or TELASA, you can watch the film right now at no extra charge. For first-time viewers who want to watch just this one title, DMM TV is the smartest choice: the 550-point sign-up bonus more than covers the ¥440 rental fee, and the 14-day free trial gives you plenty of time to enjoy it.