Signage in the Shinjuku Toho Building points visitors in the direction of the massive Godzilla head overlooking Kabuki-cho. Photo by Brett Homenick.
April 24 marked the opening of the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, which is most notable to readers of this blog for its 12-meter Godzilla head on the 8th-floor terrace and for the specialized Godzilla rooms it offers its guests. I was able to get an advance look at the enormous Godzilla head on the 8th floor and snap take some photos, which are below. A picture is worth a thousand words, so let's get to the good stuff!
Godzilla stands guard against enemy monsters in Shinjuku's Kabuki-cho district. Photo by Brett Homenick.
April 17 marks the opening of the Toho Cinemas in Shinjuku's Kabuki-cho district (just outside the station's East Exit), and I paid a visit to the theater to take some snapshots. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to see the terrace and view the Godzilla head up close, but I hope to do so soon.
"Hasta la vista, Goji!" The Terminator was on hand for the opening of the new theater. Photo by Brett Homenick.
I did manage to look around the crowded theater lobby, and while the outside has a decided Godzilla theme, indoors it was all about the upcoming Terminator movie. Suffice it to say, what was going on outside was more to my taste, as you can see in the photo below.
There was also an interactive Godzilla setup outside the East Exit of Shinjuku Station, heralding the opening of Toho Cinemas. If you pressed the button, a recording plays that features Godzilla's stomps and trademark roar and an announcement of the new theater. Steam billows out from the exhibit. See the embedded YouTube link below for the video.
I look forward to visiting the 8th floor terrace sometime in the near future, but for now today's experience was satisfying. It was very easy to get caught up in the fun and excitement of today, and seeing the full-size Godzilla head up close will be something to look forward to. I can't wait to do it!
Godzilla stands ready to demolish Toho Cinemas and Hotel Gracery in Shinjuku, Tokyo! Photo by Brett Homenick.
Work on the full-size Godzilla head that adorns that brand-new Shinjuku Toho Building in Kabuki-cho (right outside Shinjuku Station's East Exit) has been completed, though the Toho Cinemas itself will not be open to the public until April 17. Likewise, the adjacent Hotel Gracery does not open until April 24, so eager fans hoping to spend a night in one of the hotel's Godzilla-themed rooms, you'll have to wait just a bit longer.
I recently made a trip to Shinjuku to take some photos of the new Godzilla head, which are shared below. Enjoy!
