Godzilla: King of the Monsters in Hibiya

Some years ago, I first visited the Godzilla king of the monsters statue in Hibiya.  At that time, the sky was dull, so I photographed him in black and white.  But this time, I had some good weather.  I captured him in color.

The Hibiya Square statue was unveiled in late March 2018. You’ll recognize him easily if you’ve seen the film “Shin Godzilla.”  It is very cool, but it has a major shortcoming.  While it might be a complete statue, it is small, only three meters tall!

A bigger statue would be good. But we have to work with what we have.  If you use a short lens, it will be small in photos.  In that case, he will be the dwarf of monsters, not the king.

Still, you can get close to him.  So taking his picture isn’t a problem as smartphones, point-and-shoot, or DSLRs will work.  There are stairs up to him.  That will only be from the back, though.

If possible, I recommend using a longer lens.  Use one of those, and you’ll have more options.  You could focus on details and blow out backgrounds with bokeh. 

An alternative is to take more lenses.  This time, I used a wide-angle, short zoom, and a longer one!  That allowed me to cover all my bases.  I got the best of everything.

If you want a bigger Godzilla, you must look at the one in Shinjuku.  That one is life-size, but it’s not a complete statue.  You’ll only see the head and some claws.

Where is Godzilla King of the Monsters?

Actually, the correct name for the spot is Hibiya Godzilla Square. It is near the Hibiya Metro Station. Use one of the following subway lines to get there:

  • Toei Mita
  • Tokyo Metro Chiyoda
  • Tokyo Metro Hibiya

See it here on Google Maps.

The Godzilla shop

Behind the statue, there used to be a shop. It sold a variety of paraphernalia like figurines, books, and posters. On March 27, 2022, it closed down. Now, it is a cafe.

Wrapping up

The Hibiya Square Godzilla is a must-see for movie buffs. He is a screen legend of Japanese cinema, which makes him worth photographing. Just remember to take a long lens with you.

By the way, his latest movie was the 2021 Godzilla vs. Kong. Have you seen it? If you have, let me know your thoughts.

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