The Garden of Words

46 min · 2013 · Directed by Makoto Shinkai · 3.4 / 5 on Letterboxd

The Garden of Words (2013) runs 46 min, directed by Makoto Shinkai. It is one of 3,647 films in the 100 Minute Movies catalog — every one rated 3.0 or higher by Letterboxd members and short enough to finish in an evening.

Takao, who is training to become a shoemaker, skipped school and is sketching shoes in a Japanese-style garden. He meets a mysterious woman, Yukino, who is older than him. Then, without arranging the times, the two start to see each other again and again, but only on rainy days. They deepen their relationship and open up to each other. But the end of the rainy season soon approaches.

Genres: Animation, Drama, Romance

No US streaming listed when we last checked (9 July 2026). Availability changes often.