Godzilla gets a head in Kabukicho
Godzilla is a Tokyo icon, so I should have done this article long ago. Did you know he’s been in Shinjuku Kabukicho since 2015? That happened right after he turned sixty. I didn’t take his photo on the big day. My first chance was in 2019. Only I would turn up four years late. I’m surprised he didn’t come to my apartment and stomp me.
Still, four years late was better than never, right? I doubt he has changed much. People tell me he still looks the same, and I believe them. I’ve seen the photos. He’s the same. See him yourself on your next Tokyo vacation.
His head is visible atop the Shinjuku Toho Building, forty meters up. Yes, just his head and claws. It is so cool that thousands of people walk past him daily and snap a pic. Even at sixty-nine, the King of Monsters still draws a crowd. No wonder he is a great Tokyo photo spot.
What more can I say? There’s not much advice to offer about taking his photo. Smartphones, point and shoots, or DSLRs all work. Any camera will do.
Remember one thing! Godzilla’s head is high off the ground, so the smaller the lens, the smaller he will be in pictures! You could go up to the coffee shop on the same floor as he is, but those pictures don’t usually have the same impact.
The last time I photographed the monster was in August 2023. I took these photos with my Fujifilm XF 55-200 mm lens. The shots were satisfactory. What do you think?
What are the images under him? They are from the City Hunter movie. It comes from a manga series that ran from 1985 to 1991. There have also been several theatrical releases.
Here is one piece of advice for taking his pictures. The head doesn’t look spectacular in daylight, so I recommend early evening when the sun goes down. The fading light adds a little more drama.
He even lights up once an hour. I’ve wanted those shots for ages. But time and weather have prevented that. These have to do for now. New ones will be here, eventually!
Where is Godzilla?
He is in Kabukicho on the Hotel Gracery verandah, above the Shinjuku Toho Building. That’s a short walk from JR Shinjuku (east exit) and Seibu Shinjuku stations. Once there, take the elevator to the eighth-floor lobby.
Godzilla is on this Google map:
For similar photo spots in Tokyo, look at:
Conclusion
This statue in Kabukicho should satisfy Godzilla fans. The only negative point is that it was once accessible. Now, there is no public access to the verandah. That is a genuine pity. Anyway, his head looks cool, jutting up over the building. One day, I will photograph it at night! Leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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