In conjunction with Japanese movie studio Toho, the world’s first theme park dedicated to everyone’s favorite disaster movie lizard opened on October 10th at the Nijigen no Mori amusement park on Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture.
The amusement park is called Godzilla Interception Operation Awaji, and was fully opened on October 10th, 2020 (a part of it opened earlier, in August) after a delay caused by COVID-19. The attraction, features the world’s first “life-size” Godzilla as well as the world’s first Godzilla Museum.
Park visitors can ride a 162 m zipline right into the giant beast’s insides. In addition to the giant Godzilla and zipline, there is a shooting attraction in which visitors try to destroy “Godzilla cells” spreading from the inactive Godzilla.
The museum features large-scale dioramas of scenes from Godzilla movies, with Godzilla stomping around and through some of his favorite haunts such as Tokyo Station, Otemachi, and Roppongi. Visitors can also check out the props from the movies—including the Godzilla suits used by the actors. Along with the many incarnations of Godzilla, his many enemies will be on display—including the giant bug Mothra and the robot Mechagodzilla.
The restaurant at Nijigen no Mori will be serving Godzilla-themed dishes. For collectors, there are limited-edition Godzilla products.
Tickets, which includes the zipline and the museum are ¥3,800 for adults and ¥2,200 for the kids.
The amusement park is located just over an hour from Osaka by bus or a train + bus combo.
If you’re a Godzilla fan, be sure to check out the Godzilla statues dotted around Tokyo.
This article was first published on August 8th, and updated on October 15th, 2020.
