Godzilla Head
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Seibu-Shinjuku Station · 3 min walk (Seibu Shinjuku Line)
- Hours
- 12:00–20:00 hourly shows (building exterior viewable 24 hours)
- Admission
- Free (from street); lounge order required for 8th-floor indoor view
- Time needed
- 10–20 min
- Best time to go
- After dark between 18:00 and 20:00, when the sculpture's illuminated eyes and spine effects contrast against Kabukichō neon
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Perched atop the Toho Cinema building in the heart of Kabukicho, this life-sized replica of the 1992 Godzilla head is a striking tribute to Japan's most famous kaiju. It is worth visiting to experience Shinjuku's neon-drenched, cinematic atmosphere and to hear the beast roar and spit mist on the hour. Expect a quick but memorable photo opportunity from the street below, or get up close if you are a hotel guest or cafe patron.
What Japanese guides note
The Godzilla Head rests on the 8th-floor base of the Shinjuku Toho Building, which occupies the historic footprint of the former Shinjuku Koma Theater. Visitors frequently assume the outdoor 8th-floor observation deck is accessible, but the exterior terrace remains closed; indoor close-up viewing is reserved for Hotel Gracery guests and patrons of Gracery Lounge. The most practical vantage point is at street level along Godzilla Road, timed to coincide with the on-the-hour mist and roar demonstrations between 12:00 and 20:00.
Details from local sources
- The sculpture stands 12 meters above the terrace floor and 52 meters above street level, intentionally matched to the 50-meter height of the original 1954 Godzilla. [source]
- The 80-ton head was fabricated from glassfiber-reinforced cement using 3D scans of the preserved suit model from the 1992 film Godzilla vs. Mothra. [source]
- The roaring, light, and mist sequence activates precisely once per hour between 12:00 and 20:00 daily accompanied by original film audio. [source]
- The 8th-floor outdoor Godzilla Terrace is indefinitely closed to the public, preventing visitors from stepping out directly beside the sculpture. [source]
- Access past the 1st-floor elevator banks to the 8th floor is restricted strictly to Hotel Gracery Shinjuku overnight guests and patrons seated at Gracery Lounge. [source]
- Shinjuku Ward officially granted Godzilla a special certificate of residence and designated the monster a Shinjuku Tourism Ambassador in April 2015. [source]
- The complex occupies the grounds of the Shinjuku Koma Theater, a historic Kabukichō performance hall that was demolished after closing in December 2008. [source]
Insider Tip
For the best street-level view and photos, stand near the crossing on Central Road (Yasukuni-dori) looking directly up at the building.
Frequently asked
Can visitors walk out onto the 8th-floor terrace next to Godzilla?
No. The outdoor Godzilla Terrace is currently closed. Visitors can only view the head closely through interior glass windows by ordering at the 8th-floor Gracery Lounge or by booking a Godzilla-view room as an overnight guest at Hotel Gracery Shinjuku.
What time does the Godzilla Head roar and emit mist?
The animatronic performance runs every hour on the hour from 12:00 to 20:00 daily. During the performance, the beast emits roars set to film soundtracks, flashes its red eyes and dorsal fins, and expels smoke mist from its open jaws.
Where is the best street vantage point to take photos?
The direct line of sight is along Central Road (officially designated Godzilla Road), looking north from Yasukuni-dori. This pedestrian approach frames the 12-meter head looming directly between the commercial buildings over the cinema complex.
Is there an admission fee to see the Godzilla Head?
Street viewing from Kabukichō is completely free. For indoor 8th-floor views, there is no separate ticket fee, but non-staying visitors must purchase food or a drink at Gracery Lounge, where themed and standard beverages start around ¥1,300 to ¥1,600.
Where can visitors buy official Godzilla souvenirs nearby?
The ground-floor 7-Eleven inside Shinjuku Toho Building maintains a dedicated Godzilla merchandise rack. For a full retail selection, the official Godzilla Store Tokyo operates on the first floor of Shinjuku Marui Annex, located a 10-minute walk southeast.
Our Tokyo walking tours
Photos
