Yokosuka's Godzilla Slides

Above, the original Godzilla slide at Tatarahama Beach. 

Back in February, it was a cold and snowy day when I arrived at the Kurihama Flower World in Yokosuka to see the Godzilla slide. As the park's trams weren't operating on the day I visited, I had to hike it to the slide.

Above, the Kurihama Flower World map.

The slide at Kurihama Flower World was erected in 1998 to replace one that once stood at Tatarahama Beach in Yokosuka that fell into disrepair due to age and weathering. The original Godzilla slide was installed in 1958 where Godzilla allegedly first stepped foot in Japan in 1954. It was removed in 1973.

The Tatarahama Beach slide A (about 15 feet tall) barely resembled Godzilla, whereas, the current slide is a dead-ringer for the Heisei Godzilla suit design and much bigger (around 30 feet).

Above, the Godzilla slide at Kurihama Flower World. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Kurihama Flower World in Yokosuka is about an hour away from Tokyo on the Keikyu Line from Shinagawa Station.

The Godzilla Slide is spotlighted on page 32 in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

Another Look At Yokosuka's Godzilla Slide

Above, the Godzilla slide with a light dusting of snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in February, I paid a cold, snowy and windy visit to the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka's Kurihama Flower World.

At the time, the park tram wasn't operating and I had to take a moderately steep trail (although paved) to get to the Godzilla slide.

Rocket News 24's Casey Baseel had better luck on his visit. The weather was warmer, clearer and the tram was operating (although he missed it).

He has a nice write-up on his visit to the Godzilla slide. He confirms what I suspected about a sign at the base of Godzilla's pedestal. It is a list of contributors who donated "to the cause of bringing Godzilla back."

Above, the article confirms that this is the list of contributors to the new slide. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The article also includes a photo of the original Godzilla slide at Tatarahama beach. It is a photo that's been floating around the Internet, but larger.

To read the article, go here.