Take On Godzilla With Godzilla VR!

Above, Godzilla peers over a building in Shinjuku. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

How would you like to take on Godzilla in a black helicopter?

Well, now you can with a new VR Zone attraction in Tokyo and Osaka: Godzilla VR.

SoraNews24 (formerly known as RocketNews24) reported:

The creators of the original film, most of whom have passed on, probably never could have imagined it would have become this big. And they certainly would have been amazed at this new attraction scheduled for VR Zone in Osaka and Tokyo: Godzilla VR! 

Actually, they might have been a little disappointed. I mean, they were expecting us to live like The Jetsons by now with flying cars and houses in the sky, but this is still really cool and lets people experience the thrilling terror of a Godzilla attack like never before. 

Participants don a VR helmet and sit in a motion simulator chair which transports them to the virtual cockpit of an attack chopper as part of a team tasked with bringing down the giant menace. 

Now, those familiar with the movies would probably take this to mean Godzilla VR is essentially a “fiery death simulator.” However, the description of the attraction is that, unlike your lizard-fodder peers, your helicopters are armed with a special coagulant round which has the ability to stop Godzilla dead in his tracks.

To read more, go here.

Shibuya 109: A Makeover and Logo Contest

Above, the Shibuya 109. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Most Godzilla and Gamera fans are familiar with the Shibuya 109 building. It appeared in Gamera 3 and in Godzilla x Megaguirus. In both movies, the building didn't fare too well, if you get my meaning.

The building has been a landmark for about 39 years and it is about to get a makeover.

According to SoraNews24 (formerly known as RocketNews 24):

Your chance to see your design up in lights at one of the world’s busiest intersections.

Shibuya’s 109 building is one of the most famous landmarks in Tokyo, and a dream destination for young women looking to shop for cute and fashionable clothing and goods inside the multi-storey shopping mall. 

Located right by the famous scramble crossing, the building has been looming over the intersection with its large “Shibuya 109” sign for 39 years, and now, to mark its upcoming 40th anniversary in 2019, the building’s operators are looking to give the ageing beauty a facelift, with an all-new logo.

Designs for the new logo, which will feature on advertising for the shopping mall, as well as on the outside of the building, will be selected from the public through a special contest that’s currently running from 18 April to 20 May. Not only will the winning design change the cityscape at Shibuya’s famous scramble crossing, it will also net the winning designer a prize of 1.09 million yen (US$9,967.90), while three runners-up will be awarded 109,000 yen ($996.62) each.

To read more, go here.

Tokyo Tower Opens Up New Top Deck Tour

Above, a morning street view of Tokyo Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo Tower has been around since 1958 and has been featured in a number of kaiju movies over the years.

In recent times, the new Tokyo Skytree has taken over the spotlight. But, Tokyo Tower is still a tourist draw and the operators have something new to present.

According to RocketNews 24:

If you’ve ever visited Tokyo Tower, one of the most famous landmarks in Japan’s capital city, you’ve probably admired the expansive view from the viewing platforms, marvelled at the feat of engineering…and felt somewhat underwhelmed by the outdated interiors. 

Having been constructed in 1958, some might argue that the staid and dated interiors are all part of the tower’s charm, but this year, to celebrate its 60th anniversary, Tokyo Tower is bringing its image firmly into the present with some brand new refurbished areas featuring modern and futuristic designs. 

While sections of the 150 metre-high Main Deck viewing area are currently undergoing a facelift, the 250-metre high Top Deck is now open for business, after being closed for renovations since October 2016. The whole visitor experience has been overhauled as well, with the journey up to the tower’s highest viewing point now being rebranded as the “Top Deck Tour“.

To read and see more, go here. 

Visitors Damaging Japan's Famous Torii Gate

Above, the Itsukushima Shrine Torii Gate during high tide. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island near Hiroshima are unintentionally causing damage to the iconic torii gate which may eventually cause it to collapse.

According to RocketNews24:

Hiroshima Prefecture’s Miyajima, though, is absolutely worth visiting, regardless of what specifically drew you to Japan. The mountainous island is covered with centuries-old shrines and lush forests, and wild yet calm deer walk through the town where the ferry port is located. And then there’s the sight of Itsukushima Shrine’s torii gate rising from the waters of the bay, one of the most iconic views in all of Japan. 

When the tide is low, you can actually walk all the way out to the base of the torii, where travelers routinely snap close-up photos of its orange-painted timbers. 

But because the lower part of the gate spends much of the day underwater, the wood is cracked and warped in spots. Unfortunately, some tourists have taken to cramming coins into the cracks, creating an unsightly mess that can’t be good for the torii. 

To read more, go here. 

Harajuku Station To Be Rebuilt

Above, Harajuku Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Three Tokyo train stations will be undergoing renovation, including the historic Harajuku Station that serves the JR Yamanote Line.

According to RocketNews 24:

JR East confirmed reports today that it would be renovating three stations on its Tokyo rail network, with upgrades planned for Harajuku Station on the Yamanote loop line and Sendagaya and Shinanomachi stations on the company’s Chūō-Sobu Line. The works, which will include the introduction of new barrier-free facilities and expansion of concourses and ticket gates, are expected to be completed by 2020 at a total cost of 250 billion yen (US$2.3 billion). 

The new plans are designed to improve passenger flow, which is expected to increase dramatically during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and alleviate congestion, which, especially in the case of Harajuku Station, can prove dangerous as passengers spill out onto the road from the narrow walkway during peak periods on weekends and public holidays.

The plans for Harajuku Station is causing concern to locals, given its historical value:

Following the announcement of the station upgrades, Japanese television news reports focused heavily on the changes planned for Harajuku Station. Built in 1924, the wooden building is the oldest of its kind in the Tokyo area, and has a distinctive facade that evokes an atmosphere of nostalgia within its modern environment. 

JR East has said it will make a decision on whether to demolish the current structure or incorporate it into the new design after listening to views from the local municipality.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo Ranks As "Most Livable City" In Annual Survey

Above, Sensoji in Asakusa, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo, Japan scored the top spot in an annual survey as being the "most livable city" in the world.

Three other Japanese cities also scored high.

According to RocketNews24:

For the past 11 years, British-based lifestyle magazine Monocle has published a ranking of the most livable cities in the world. The evaluations in the annual Quality of Life Survey draw from factors such as transportation infrastructure, cultural activities, cuisine, housing costs, abundance of public spaces, and business startup climate. 

Germany has the most entries on this year’s list, with four of its cities making the cut. However, Japan was close behind with three cities in the top 25, including the top spot overall.

To see what Japanese cities also scored as "most livable", go here. 

Top 20 Places To Visit In Tokyo

Above, Tokyo Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Wondering what to see and do in Tokyo after you've gotten there?

Casey Baseel of RocketNews 24 has an article posted in Japan Today that has 20 suggestions of places to visit in Japan's capital city.

These places were chosen by travelers who use the travel website, TripAdvisor.

It begins with:

Tokyo - We recently took a look at 20 great places to eat in Tokyo, as picked by the users of travel website Trip Advisor. No matter how much of a foodie you are, though, you’ll still need something to do between meals, which is where today’s list comes into play. 

Along with restaurants, Trip Advisor allows users to evaluate sightseeing attractions, and below are their top 20 picks for sightseeing places to visit in Tokyo.

To see what they are, go here. 

Tourism Video Features Monster By "Shin Godzilla" SPFX Team

Above, the Kanmon Straits monster.

The team behind the special effects of Shin Godzilla has a new tourism promotional video featuring a terrifying monster that rises out of the Kanmon Straits.

According to an article in RocketNews 24:

In between Japan’s main island of Honshu and the southern island of Kyushu lies a stretch of water with a current so powerful it has the ability to save its seaside residents from the might of a towering monster. That’s the theory behind a new awe-inducing promotional video created to draw attention to the area, that is. 

The impressive clip, produced by the Kitakyushu Sightseeing Association, features some amazing visuals from the creative team at Shirogumi, who recently provided visual effects for the blockbuster film Shin Godzilla (also known as Godzilla Resurgence).

To see the video and article, go here. 

Go From One End of Japan To The Other For Under $25

Above, Atami Station, one of the transfer stops in the article. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my travels to Japan over the years, I have been as far north as Sendai and far south as Kumamoto, Kyushu by train. But these treks have not been during the same trip.

However, if one wants to go from one end of Japan to another (even to another island), visitors can do so for under $25.00 each.

You may wonder, how is this possible? RocketNews 24 has the answer in an article.

They wrote:

For the price of a couple beers in a Tokyo bar, you can go all the way from the eastern capital to the southwestern island of Kyushu. 

When someone says “Time is money,” it’s usually to encourage someone to hurry up, so as not to waste economic resources. However, sometimes that exchange works in reverse, and you can find some incredible bargains if you’re willing to spend some extra time. 

For example Japan Railways, the largest train operator in Japan, offers something called the Seishun 18 Ticket package, which is a bundle of five tickets that each grant you unlimited use of unreserved seats on JR local and rapid (though not limited express) trains. 

While seishun is the Japanese word for “youth,” there’s no age restriction for the Seishun 18 ticket. What’s more, even though the Seishun 18 Ticket is sold as a set of five for 11,850 yen (US$107), they don’t have to all be used by the same person. As such, a single Seishun 18 Ticket works out to just 2,370 yen (US$21), and it turns out that’s enough to get you all the way from Tokyo, near the eastern edge of Japan, to Fukuoka Prefecture, located on the southwestern island of Kyushu.

To read more, go here. 

Universal Studios Japan: Godzilla The Real 4D

Image: Universal Studios Japan.

If you are thinking about heading over to Japan in 2017, but need a bit of an incentive to do so, maybe this will be the "swift kick in the pants" to get you motivated.

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) has announced their 2017 line-up of Cool Japan attractions and Godzilla is a big part of the mix.

USJ has a number of attractions that will make an otaku salivate in delight. But the focus here is the Godzilla attraction.

According to RocketNews 24:

Titans aren’t big enough for you? Well head over to Godzilla The Real 4D for some truly gigantic action. In this 4D theater experience you watch from the perspective of a fighter jet battling the iconic monster over Osaka City. 

After saving the day, you can reward yourself with a USJ exclusive Godzilla figure with light-up scutes, or a souvenir Godzilla tin of snacks. If you’re hungry after your battle you can also grab a Godzilla footprint steamed bun with black sesame and miso filling.

 To see more of what USJ has to offer next year, go here.

Major Luggage Failure At Haneda Airport

Above, an ANA jet at Narita International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, I arrived in Japan at Narita International Airport just fine. I flew to Japan aboard Singapore Airlines.

However, my luggage didn't make it there safely. I was told that the problem originated from the TSA at Los Angeles International Airport. My luggage arrived a day later.

That little matter is dwarfed by a big luggage disaster that occurred at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on August 11. It was confined to All Nippon Airways (ANA) flights.

Here's what RocketNews 24 wrote about it:

Thousands of passengers arrived at their destinations all over Japan last night, only to find that everyone’s bags were left behind.

On the evening of 11 August, now known as Mountain Day and the beginning of the Obon holiday season, a staggeringly large number of passengers on ANA flights from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to various locations across Japan received a shock when their luggage failed to appear on the carousel. 

However, rather than the crushing depression and sighs of “Why me?” that usually accompany an instance of lost baggage, these passengers were more perplexed by the fact that everyone else’s luggage appeared to have gone missing too.

The problem was caused by a conveyor belt failure.

To read more, go here.

"Shin Godzilla" CGI Process Shown

Above, a shot from the video. Toho Co., Ltd.

It appears that the old-school "man-in-a-suit" Godzilla is history in Japan.

Shin Godzilla is boasting some state-of-the-art special effects that will, if used creatively and wisely, provide no limits to what Godzilla can do in the future.

RocketNews 24 has an article with a video with a behind-the-scenes look as how the new Toho Godzilla was created.

They begin with:

The King of the Monsters gets some help from masters of digital visuals. 

In a number of ways, the just-released Shin Godzilla (to be called Godzilla Resurgence overseas), is a throwback to the franchise’s older movies. Unlike later films where the King of the Monsters unwittingly serves as the protector of humanity, Godzilla is back to being a clear antagonist. His smoldering body seems like an obvious reference for the nuclear destruction he was originally a metaphor for. He has a neck again. 

Still, the production isn’t entirely old-school. Co-director Hideaki Anno may be a well-known fan of Japanese tokusatsu special effects shows (as displayed in the similarities to be found between fight scenes in Anno’s Evangelion anime and the Ultraman TV series), but that doesn’t mean Shin Godzilla was going to shackle itself by shunning CG visuals.

To read more and see the video, go here. 

When It Comes To Godzilla, Size Does Matter

Above, the Godzilla statue at Toho Studios in Setagaya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many fans are excited over the return of the Japanese Godzilla. It has been 12 years since the previous Toho-produced G-movie, Godzilla Final Wars was released.

Apparently the release of Toho's Shin Godzilla (a.k.a. Godzilla Resurgence) has gotten RocketNews 24 all excited as they have posted several Godzilla-related articles lately.

The latest one is on the many different sizes of Godzilla over the years.

They begin with:

A new graphic shows that Godzilla has been on some serious nuclear-infused ‘roids the last 60 years.

As the city of Tokyo grows, Godzilla films have had to inflate the iconic creature to (even more) monstrous proportions. We’ve already covered how the original Godzilla would be absolutely dwarfed by modern Tokyo’s towering skyscrapers and multi-story apartment buildings, but how has everyone’s favorite city-destroying nuclear lizard thing evolved over the ages to match Tokyo’s changing landscape?

To read more, go here. 

Sengoku Photo Studio Samurai

Above, yours truly at a photo studio in Asakusa last year. Photo by Studio Nanairo.

Last October, I did a little indulging and went to a photo studio in Asakusa for a photo shoot. It was a fun experience to be photographed as a samurai. 

RocketNews 24 has posted that there's a new photo studio in Tokyo's Shibuya district that just opened who can turn just about anyone into a fierce samurai.

They wrote:

Japan’s Sengoku period was, in many ways, the archetypical era of the samurai. During its roughly 150 years, Japan’s most storied warriors clashed with one another in a dramatic struggle to unify the country. 

But while the Sengoku period ended some four centuries ago, it was only last week that Tokyo saw the opening of Samurai, which bills itself as the “Sengoku photo studio.” 

Upon arriving at Samurai, located in the Yoyogi neighborhood, customers shed their modern garb and change into suits of samurai armor. Since many Japanese history buffs have an individual warlord they feel a particular affinity for, the sets are modeled after the iconic battlefield outfits of warlords including Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Sanada Yukimura.

To read more, go here. 

The One Place Spared From Godzilla's Wrath

Above, the main gate at the Nijubashi Bridge of the Imperial Palace. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Godzilla has stomped in and around Tokyo a number of times, beginning with his first appearance in 1954. But there's one place in Tokyo that has been spared of any attacks.

According to RocketNews 24:

There’s just one place in Tokyo this mascot of mayhem always seems to spare.

Over the last six decades, Godzilla has destroyed Tokyo dozens of times, and while his career has seen many exhilarating highs (remember that time he fought a giant space moth?!) and lows (ill-advised American remake with Ferris Bueller, mediocre American remake with Walter White, those times he had an annoying son, the franchise’s ‘Scrappy-Doo’ moment), one thing has remained consistent since his first cinematic outing in 1954. So far, the iconic monster has shown no interest in destroying the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. 

Above, the Nijubashi Bridge. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Serious Godzilla fans have been familiar of this tidbit of trivia for years. It is out of respect for the Emperor and the Imperial family that Godzilla has never attacked the Imperial Palace. The National Diet Building, where Japan's national government meets, hasn't been so lucky. It has been demolished several times over the years by kaiju.

The Palace was one of the stops for the 2004 G-TOUR, I first visited the Imperial Palace in 2001.

To read more, go here. 

What The Original Godzilla Looks Like In Modern Tokyo

Above, Godzilla peers over Shinjuku rooftops. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Godzilla fans have been aware for the last 30 years or so that the need to bump up Godzilla's size was due to the modern high-rise skyline of Tokyo.

Originally, Godzilla stood 50 meters tall. But, but today's standards, that is puny in comparison to the buildings of the metropolis.

Godzilla was beefed up to around 80 meters, and later to 100 meters in the Heisei series (1984-1995).

RocketNews 24 has an article with photos of what the original Godzilla would look like in modern Tokyo.

They begin with:

When Legendary Pictures gave Godzilla an American reboot in 2014, it also made him bigger than ever, as he stood 108 meters (354 feet) tall in that film. Then, when original owners Toho announced they were bringing the King of the Monsters back to Japan for the just-released Shin Godzilla (also known as Godzilla Resurgence), he grew yet again, with the world-famous creature being 118.5 meters tall in his latest outing. 

This might seem like a bit of a friendly rivalry between production companies as they try to one-up each another in creating kaiju on the grandest scale, but the truth is that Godzilla has been growing progressively larger for decades. See, while Tokyo has been a large, bustling city since Japan’s feudal era of the 17th century, architectural and economic limits meant that it wasn’t always as studded with skyscrapers as it is now. When Godzilla made his screen debut in 1954, the capital’s skyline was far lower and less dense than it is today, and as such the movie’s star was smaller in stature as well, with a modest (by modern kaiju standards) height of 50 meters. 

Granted, that’s still pretty huge, as far as atomic fire-breathing lizards go. But while that height would have enabled him to peer over the buildings of 1950s Tokyo, Godzilla would find his lines of sight severely impaired by the city’s present-day urban jungle, as demonstrated in this tweet from @FUKUBLOG.

Size does matter.

To read more, go here. 

Learn How To Enjoy A Japanese Ryokan

Above, our room at the Atami Shinkadoya ryokan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are planning a vacation to Japan during the autumn season or in the remaining days of summer and would like to experience a Japanese ryokan (inn) with hot springs, RocketNews 24 has just the thing to educate you before going.

They have posted an article on how to enjoy a ryokan that also includes a nine-minute video.

It begins with:

Wanting to visit Japan? Now there’s  an easy-to-follow English video guide on enjoying Japanese-style inns known as ryokan!

Staying at a ryokan can be a unique experience and a very enjoyable one at that, but it also might be a bit different from what you’re used to. To make sure visitors know what to expect when staying at a ryokan, the folks at Wakura Onsen Toursim Association and  Wakura Onsen Tourism Cooperative have produced a helpful and informative English video titled “Learn How To Enjoy A Japanese Ryokan with Hot Springs in 9 minutes“.

We tried one out during our trip to Japan last October. It was in Atami, just an hour's ride on the shinkansen from Tokyo.

To see more, go here. 

Wi-Fi Coming To Mount Fuji

Above, a view of Mount Fuji from the bullet train. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who plan to hike to the summit of Japan's Mount Fuji, there's some good news for those climbers who also want to surf the Internet while there.

RocketNews24 reported:

Not so long ago, many would have thought of the idea of using the Internet while climbing Mt. Fuji to be absurd. You’re on one of the most culturally significant, naturally beautiful sites in Japan, and you want to take time out to surf the Web? 

But the Internet is now an invaluable resource for travelers, hikers included. There’s no more effective way to keep track of your location, check weather conditions, coordinate your trek with public transportation schedules, or keep in contact with the rest of your group of fellow outdoorsmen than with a smartphone or other mobile Internet-capable device, which is why this summer free Wi-Fi is coming to Mt. Fuji. 

Service provider Wire & Wireless will be offering wireless Internet access at a total of 49 locations on Japan’s tallest mountain, including all of the mountain huts that provide temporary lodging for climbers.

To read more, go here. 

80% of South Korean Youth Want To Move Out of Their Country

An interesting article appeared in RocketNews 24 a couple of days ago.

It is not about Japan, but it is about South Korea. It appears that about 80 percent of South Korea's youth want to leave the country permanently.

RocketNews 24 wrote:

South Korea is a popular travel destination adored by many, but a recent survey suggests that almost 80 percent of its citizens want out. Why?

South Korea sees millions of visitors each year, with many tourists flocking to the nation for its seasonal beauty, exotic food, vibrant pop culture, and expertise in the beauty industry. To many K-pop and K-drama fans, South Korea might seem like a dreamland, but a recent survey by South Korean website Saramin suggests that, in reality, the majority of the population are longing to leave their homeland for good.

I wonder how many of them would rather live in North Korea?

To read more, go here.

"8 Things You Need To Do To Really Understand Japan"

Above, the famous Shibuya Crossing (also known as Shibuya Scramble). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It seems that with the coming of the new year, there are more articles on Japan travel. There's how-tos, must-sees, experience-this, experience-that, eat-this and other such articles.

Of course, with the new year at hand, people begin thinking on what they want to do and where to go on their vacations. That's why there's an influx of articles to give people more ideas on what to see and do during the course of the year.

RocketNews 24 has a new "bucket list" article on "8 Things You Need To Do To Really Understand Japan".

All of their listed suggestions are excellent ones.

The article begins with:

Your first trip to Japan is bound to be a whirlwind visit as you try to pack so many things into a short period of time. Do go to Tokyo and see the white-gloved train pushers, the famous Shibuya scramble crossing, and many of the scenes depicted in anime and manga. Do go to Kyoto and see the shrines and temples that are simply amazing. 

But as a country that has so much to offer, it can take years to really get to know and understand Japan, even when you live here. So if you want to take your understanding of Japan a step further, we’re here to suggest a few things you’ll want to experience in order to better understand Japanese culture: things that give you insight on what’s behind the Japanese way of thinking. 

These experiences will help you understand who the Japanese people are, and why they act the way they do. Get ready to move from tourist to cultural expert after the jump!

My recent trip to Japan (last October) was a whirlwind visit as I needed to collect a few things for the updated edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. And, also, to give my "other half" an unforgettable Japan experience as it was her first visit there. When I first broached to Denise the idea of her coming along, she initially thought that it would be nice to go but was unsure if she'd really like it. (Luckily, since the trip was book research-related, much of the cost qualifies as a tax write-off.)

Well, once we got there and began to do things, that's when she really got into it and absolutely loved Japan and wants to go back. It also helped that she enjoys Japanese food.

That was my eighth trip to Japan and I enjoyed it just as much this time as I did during my first visit in 2001.

To see the eight suggestions, go here.