A 3.5-meter Godzilla has taken up residence in the east-west pedestrian passage of Matsumoto Station. The statue, built by the Shonai Morimori-kai, a volunteer group from the city's Shonai district, was installed on February 15th and will be officially unveiled on the 21st.
Matsumoto's Newest Resident
The project started as a community celebration. After Godzilla Minus One, directed by Matsumoto-born filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki, won the Academy Award for Visual Effects, members of the Morimori-kai set to work building a tribute using cardboard, plywood, and other materials.
The finished statue first stood at Yume Hiroba Shonai, a neighborhood community facility, where its scale and craftsmanship drew steady attention through the end of last year. From there, the idea grew: why not bring Godzilla to the station?
How Godzilla Came to the Station
The city, which manages the pedestrian passage, agreed. The statue was disassembled, stored, and touched up before being transported to the station on four trucks. Workers stacked the three main sections and attached the dorsal fins and legs by hand, piece by piece.
For many in Matsumoto, the installation is also a small act of civic recognition. Yamazaki's connection to the city isn't widely known outside Nagano Prefecture, and residents hope the statue helps change that.
Meet Godzilla Before Your Tour
Matsumoto Station is a common meeting point for our tours, so if you find yourself waiting for your guide, head to the east-west pedestrian passage for a photo with Japan's most famous monster. At 3.5 meters tall, Godzilla is hard to miss.
The Meeting Point for our tours at Matsumoto Station
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