G-TOUR 2004

Above, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion.

In August 2004, G-FAN publisher and editor J. D. Lees led 60 Godzilla fans to Japan on an eleven-day tour of Japan to celebrate Godzilla's 50th Anniversary.

G-TOUR took nearly three years to plan and to obtain bids from several travel/tour companies. Ultimately, Sita World Travel of Encino, California was chosen to put together G-TOUR.

I assisted J. D. Lees in the planning (after all, two heads are better than one).

G-TOUR departed on July 31, 2004 from the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. The eleven-hour flight was aboard a Singapore Airlines 747 which had individual video screens. Their service and meals were top-notch. We were joined by Pete Sohi of Sita and he made sure that the tour went off without a hitch.

We arrived at the New Tokyo International Airport at dusk and after going through Immigration, Customs and currency exchange, we were bused into Tokyo. As we entered Tokyo, fireworks were seen in the darkened skies. We stayed at the Shiba Park Hotel near Tokyo Tower.

The stay in Tokyo included Tokyo Tower, Aqua City, Ginza, Imperial Palace, Asakusa and a bus trip to Koriyama, the hometown of Eiji Tsuburaya, the father of Japanese special effects. The Koriyama City Museum had the "Since Godzilla" exhibit which included monster suits, the Oxygen Destroyer, Mothra egg, posters and other items from the first 50 years of Godzilla.

We also held a dinner get-together at T.G.I. Friday's in Roppongi, Tokyo and it was there that Godzilla vs. Hedorah director Yoshimitsu Banno announced his Godzilla 3D To The Max project.

We departed Tokyo and headed to the Hakone and Mt. Fuji region by bus. Sites visited included Mt. Fuji, Great Buddha of Kamakura and a fireworks show at Lake Kawaguchi. We also took a boat ride on Lake Ashii.

From there, we headed to Atami City and took the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto. In Kyoto, we visited Nijo Castle, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion, Kyomizu Temple and other sites of Japanese history.


Above, the Atomic Dome in Hiroshima.

From Kyoto, we took a day-trip on the Shinkansen to Hiroshima, where the first atomic bomb was dropped. We visited Miyajima Island as well as Peace Memorial Park and Museum.


Above, the Torii Gate at Miyajima.

While in Kyoto, we were visited by the Stuart Galbraiths and Robert Scott Field.



Above, G-TOUR at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.

We also took another day-trip (by bus) to Osaka Castle, the location of the final battle between Godzilla and Anguirus in Godzilla Raids Again.

Several members of G-TOUR also visited the Toei Studio Amusement Park.

The last day of G-TOUR began early as we had an eight o'clock flight from Osaka to Narita on an All Nippon Airways 747. Some of us took a train into Tokyo for the all-day layover before our departure to Los Angeles that evening.

Many have asked if there will be a G-TOUR II. At present, there are no plans but we haven't ruled out another organized tour. The official G-FAN website has a link to a splendid photo slideshow of G-TOUR. Feel free to take at look at http://www.g-fan.com.

If there is another G-TOUR, do yourself a favor and sign up!