At the Nijigen no Mori park in Awaji Island, Japan, the first Godzilla museum is open for a limited time, complete with movie props, food, and more.
The first museum dedicated to Godzilla is open in Japan for a limited time. TOHO launched its official English Godzilla website back in May 2019, complete with a "Monsterpedia" for the kaiju's friends and foes. One can never overstate the pop culture impact of the Godzilla series. Although the King of the Monsters wasn't the first giant monster on the big screen, he would headline a long-running franchise, the longest of any movie series to date.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect is how the character changed over time. He went from being a grim allegory for the nuclear bomb to a Japan-saving hero, not unlike Ultraman. As a franchise, Godzilla has ventured into multimedia. He has battled the Avengers in a Marvel comic and even received his own version of Jenga. For a limited time, fans can enjoy the franchise in a museum format.
Starting August 8 at the Nijigen no Mori theme park in Awaji Island, Japan, the first Godzilla Museum opened to the general public. Although the full life-size Shin Godzilla attraction is not ready, fans can visit the Godzilla Museum until August 31. There are several things happening on the premises. Like any museum, there are plenty of displays, including movie props. As seen below, there is a big diorama for Godzilla: Tokyo SOS, and a diorama for Shin Godzilla. Many Godzilla figures are on display. For the kids, there is a Chibi Godzilla workshop for creating toys. Unsurprisingly, there is exclusive merchandise.
No, one's eyes are not lying; there is also Godzilla-themed food as well. It would not be unreasonable to say Mothra looks delicious. Overall, there is plenty of content to absorb at the museum. This isn't the first time Godzilla props have been on display at a place for fans to enjoy. However, many would agree Godzilla is deserving of a full-fledged museum. The amount of creativity that went into making the films is arguably unparalleled. There is no word on when the museum will open permanently, so fans will have to wait and see when the Shin Godzilla attraction is ready.
While disappointing some fans may never get to visit the museum, Godzilla will continue to have a significant presence worldwide. For North American fans, there is G-Fest, the annual convention featuring guest appearances, a dealers room, and more. Legendary's MonsterVerse is currently going, with Godzilla's bout against Kong releasing in May 2021. It took perhaps too long, but the Godzilla museum further cements the fact that the King of the Monsters is one of the kings of pop culture.
Source: Nijigen no Mori
