Still in Operation After April! Special Feature of the Life-size Statue of Unicorn Gundam in Tokyo and vGundam in Fukuoka, along with THE GUNDAM BASE & GUNDAM SIDE-F!

The GUNDAM FACTORY YOKOHAMA (GFY), where the life-size moving Gundam is exhibited, will reach its grand finale on Sunday, March 31. While the moving Gundam and its exhibition facility, which started in 2020, will come to an end, Japan still has two life-size Gundam statues in operation in Tokyo and Fukuoka.

In this article, we will introduce not only the two life-size Gundam statues but also THE GUNDAM BASE and GUNDAM SIDE-F, which many fans both in and out of Japan come to visit.
Take this opportunity to check them out and visit the locations!

Tokyo has the Life-sized Unicorn Gundam Statue modeled after the Unicorn Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. It is located at the Festival Plaza on the second floor of Divercity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo.

The Life-size Unicorn Gundam Statue can transform from its regular Unicorn Mode to the maximum operating Destroy Mode with its frames exposed by deploying various sections throughout its body. During the day, the statue transforms several times, and in the evening, visitors can enjoy a performance combined with Wall-G that uses the wall of Divercity Tokyo Plaza.

The Festival Plaza, where the statue is displayed, is the location where the RG 1/1 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. GFT was displayed until 2017 and is still used for various events today.
Inside Divercity Tokyo Plaza, there are multiple Gundam-related facilities, with two stores: THE GUNDAM BASE TOKYO on the 7th floor and THE GUNDAM BASE TOKYO ANNEX at the feet of the Life-sized Unicorn Gundam Statue. The former is the official comprehensive GUNPLA facility for GUNPLA fans worldwide, featuring about 1,500 GUNPLA and related products. The latter is a new store that opened in December 2023, offering Gundam souvenirs to domestic and international tourists, with a different lineup from the main GUDNAM BASE.

At THE GUNDAM BASE TOKYO is currently featuring events such as the SEED SERIES WORLD exhibition commemorating the release of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM and a re-release and exhibition of helmets of the BB Senshi commemorating the release of SDW HEROES Musha Gundam The 78th and Onmitsu Gundam Aerial. Various events other than shopping are also held from time to time, so be sure to stop by.

The closest stations are Tokyo Teleport station of the Rinkai Line and Daiba station of the New Transit Yurikamome. While you can enjoy the gallant figure of the Life-sized Unicorn Gundam Statue from Yurikamome’s Tokyo International Cruise Terminal station, walking from there would be a bit of a detour, so be sure to check the route you want to take in advance.

The Life-sized ν (Nu) Gundam Statue in operation in Fukuoka is a relatively new statue that began operating in 2022. It is located at Mitsui Shopping Park LalaPort Fukuoka Forest Park.

This statue is the RX-93ff νGundam, based on the RX-93 νGundam from Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, but equipped with a newly added Long Range Fin Funnel. It features a highly vivid tri-color marking supervised by Yoshiyuki Tomino, the general director of the Mobile Suit Gundam series.

The statue is 24.8m tall (the head at 20.5m), making it the largest of the life-sized Gundam statues. The right shoulder and head parts move to change poses for the special performances held over ten times a day. Particularly in the evening, a special performance is held with video projections on the walls of LaLaport Fukuoka, entertaining visitors with a stunning battle scene between the RX-93ff νGundam and its counterpart, the MSN-04FF Szabi.

Additionally, LaLaport Fukuoka, where the statue is displayed, has the related facility Gundam Park Fukuoka. It consists of three areas: GUNDAM SIDE-F, which provides the latest information and handles GUNPLA and other merchandise centering on Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, VS PARK WITH G, a sports entertainment area offering experiences like an entertainment TV show, and the amusement area namco, which has a large collection of Gundam-related games including some that can only be found here. The Gundam Park Fukuoka is a multifaceted complex that offers various ways to enjoy.

The closest station is JR Takeshita station, which is one stop from JR Hakata station. LaLaport Fukuoka also has excellent transportation access, with a directly connected bus stop, making it easy to travel from places like Fukuoka Airport. As there are many transportation options available, it is recommended to check the official website in advance for details.

Though located a bit away from LaLaport Fukuoka, Fukuoka has another must-see Gundam-related facility.
It is THE GUNDAM BASE FUKUOKA at Canal City Hakata. Opened in 2019 as the second GUNDAM BASE in Japan and renewed in 2023, this flagship shop focuses on GUNPLA, offering limited items different from GUNDAM SIDE-F, exhibiting models built by professional modelers, and the Build Room workshop space.

Furthermore, THE GUNDAM BASE FUKUOKA displays its unique statue, the Unicorn Gundam Perfectibility, also known as the Red Unicorn. While not life-sized, its presence is still quite impactful, making it worth witnessing in person.

The closest station to Canal City Hakata, where THE GUNDAM BASE FUKUOKA is located, is Kushida Shrine station of the Nanakuma Line. Similar to LaLaport Fukuoka, there are also good bus route options, so those may also be worth utilizing for transportation.

(Gundam.info Editorial Department)