Odaiba continues to enjoy popularity as one of the must-visit areas in Tokyo. How about taking a picture for your Instagram in front of the life-sized statue of Gundam at the Diver City Tokyo Plaza? This will definitely make your friends a little bit jealous!
Early this year, the previous Gundam statue was removed and it shocked a lot of anime enthusiasts. But soon enough, in September of 2017, the new life-sized, 19.7-meter Unicorn Gundam was unveiled.
Bigger than before!
The new Unicorn Gundam is at a towering 19.7 meters and weighs 49 metric tons. Compared to the older model, RX-78-2 which was at 18 meters, this one is slightly bigger. The best part is that its not only bigger than the previous one but the Unicorn Gundam can also transform! You heard it right!
The Gundam can faithfully transform from “unicorn mode” to “destroy mode" in the same way as seen in TV shows. Those who want to see this fantastic spectacle must visit after sunset!
Great during the day but AWESOME at night!
If you visit during the day, you can see the giant statue transform at fixed times. It starts & ends the day in the Destroy Mode and takes only about 10-15 seconds for the transformation to take place. The transformation involves fifty spots on the body being illuminated, opening of the unicorn horn as well as parts of the shoulders, back, and knees, and changes in the facial features. While it can be amazing to see, the real fun begins at sundown.
Schedule
DAYTIME
Unicorn Gundam Transformation
11:00/ 13:00/ 15:00/ 17:00
EVENING
19:00 & 20:30 Light show +"Fly! Gundam 2017"
19:30 & 21:00 Light show + "Mobile Suit Gundan UC RE: MIX0096"
20:00 & 21:30 Light show+ "Mobile Suit Gundam UC Special Movie “Cage” SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Tielle
If you want to see both the transformation and these special nighttime displays, then visit around 16:30, go grab a bite and return around 19:00. That way you can enjoy both!
The night display is especially cool as the colors pop and you can really feel the scale of this gigantic statue. Check out the cool jet core boosters!
Good news for visitors from November 20, 2017 to January 31, 2018
Different from the usual light up throughout the year, the statue will be specially lit up in blue only for winter along with video projections in the background as well as music suitable to the festive season.
Considering its winter, the blue light makes you feel even more cold but without a doubt, the visual impact of the contrasting white & blue is impressive.
Usually the statue is lit up in pink. In winter, the illumination alternates between pink and blue.
Which one do you prefer? If you want a unique winter feel and want to enjoy illuminations in Japan, then don't forget to add this to your list.
After spending a day of sightseeing and shopping in Odaiba, grab some coffee and wait for the light up spectacle to begin!
DETAILS
Address: Diver City Tokyo Plaza, 1-1-10 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Access: 5-min walk from Tokyo Teleport Station on the Rinkai Line and Daiba Station on the Yurikamome Line
Download the Ikidane Nippon App: iOS / Android
