Life-sized Godzilla theme park attraction launches in Japan

You may have to put “riding a zip line into Godzilla’s mouth” on your bucket list — and then check it off.

The thrilling attraction is a new feature at the Nijigen no Mori theme park, which features Japanese pop culture and anime, on Awaji Island near Kobe (yes, the city where the famous beef hails from). 

The ride is called “Godzilla Interception Operation Awaji” and players must engage in missions to prevent the horror icon from unleashing its fury. Visitors start on a platform before racing down a 400-foot zip line into a massive life-sized Godzilla mouth. After landing, players participate in a shooting game where they have to zap Godzilla’s cells from growing.

“As far as we know, this is the only life-size Godzilla statue ever built,” a spokesperson told BBC News.

The humongous replica is 75 feet tall, 82 feet wide and roughly 180 feet long. Although the Godzilla in its most recent film, “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” was 400 feet long, the ride only includes the creature’s head.

“It’s the perfect weather for Godzilla — the embodiment of a raging god — to appear,” Yasuyuki Nambu, an official told Japan Times. “We would like visitors to learn about Awaji Island through the globally renowned Godzilla.” 

The theme park, which delayed its opening due to the pandemic, is now open to visitors. Other Godzilla-related programming includes a Godzilla museum with dioramas and replicas, as well as themed-foods like Godzilla ice cream puffs. 

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