Toho Studios
Japan.
Well this was a pain to find, after doing some research
before we went to Japan I saw a picture of Toho studios with a statue of
Godzilla outside with his tail smashing through some concrete and a huge
painting on the studio wall of The Seven Samurai, I had to go so on our travel
plans it went! The map off of Google
looked simple enough to follow, exit the station and you’ll see a KFC, Follow
the road straight down and then slightly to the left and there you have Toho
studio’s, no, not that simple, We left
the station and spotted KFC straight away, followed the road straight down and
slightly to the left, walked through a park which was a very nice park I must
say but ended up on what appeared to be a busy duel carriage way with bridges
everywhere, I think we were lost.
Now being a geek (and proud!) and a huge Godzilla fan I
donned my Godzilla T-shirt for the trip and photo opportunity with the statue
and the Samurai, As I said we were lost and when I spotted a car park security
guard I thought “ I know, if he doesn’t
speak very good English I’ll just point to my T-Shirt” But it was to no avail,
My Japanese is terrible and the even me
pointing to my T-shirt and using the
Japanese “Goijira” to him just ended up with him smiling very politely and
nodding his head, He must have thought I was a right weirdo!
We walked, Walked some more, then some more. Up a hill, Down
a hill, around a corner but I had no idea where we were going I was well and
truly lost. Before we went to Japan we had planned in Tokyo as our last stop
for a few days and Emma bless her for her patience said that why don’t we have
“Jonny Friday!” a day just for me involving Kaiju toy hunting and a trip to
Toho Studios. So with getting lost and looking at my watch it was getting later
and later and eating big time into Jonny Friday, I was ready to give up, But
Emma said we have come this far we will find it! We wondered around what seemed
to be the 100th corner when Emma said “Stop, show me the map, I'm
sure I recognise the name of that furniture centre” so out came the map and
there it was the furniture centre with Toho Studios on the map a few 100 yards
away, Had we finally found it? Yes we had! As I walked further up the road I
saw it slightly hid behind some stunning cherry blossom trees a sign for the
legendary Toho Studios.
So we walked up to the studio and I spotted him, yes
Godzilla! Standing around 7ft tall the detail was amazing, I was thinking of
ideas/angles for my photo’s when a Japanese lady with a small child on the
front of her bike who was holding a cool Ultraman toy came and sat in front of
it, The child obviously loved it but all I could selfishly think was “how long
you going to be, I want a photo!” After 5 minutes or so they left, The only
people there were me and Emma and a man who worked for the studio who appeared
to have the never ending task of sweeping up the cherry blossom. To the right
of Godzilla is a huge wall with a painting of the Seven Samurai and when I say
huge I mean HUGE, it was amazing to see the scale of it just looking up, A
great memory to have.
Now unfortunately you can’t get access into Toho Studios
only on certain days do they open their doors for special tours but our time in
Japan didn’t coincide with one of these dates, But saying that I did take a
sneaky photo down the side of the entrance where I spotted Mothra! The people
at the reception desk were looking at me a bit odd but I’m sure I’m not the 1st
or even last geek they will have to look at, So I though sod it I’m only here
once, let’s get a photo!
So with no one around it was photo time with The King of the
Monsters! As I said the detail on the statue is amazing and it was quite a
surreal thing to see him covered in falling cherry blossom, one thing is for
sure though if I ever win the lottery I am commissioning one to be made and he’s
going in my garden! (sorry Emma!)
KING OF THE MONSTERS AND HIS CHERRY BLOSSOMED FACE!
IN ALL HIS TALL GLORY
VERY DETAILED ZILLA'S SPINES!
LOOK OUT EMMA SOMETHINGS BEHIND YOU!!
FULL METAL GEEK!
CHERRY BLOSSOM STOMPING FOOT!
CONCRETE DESTRUCTION!
MY FINAL SHOT OF THE BIG FELLA.
So that was our trip to Toho Studios, Thanks to Emma’s
patience we found it. We then wondered back up the road, back to the station
and got lost again! This time we found ourselves wondering through an housing
estate and down a huge hill which I commented on “ I wouldn’t fancy walking
back up that!” but I did, we were knackered but found a vending machine, got
some weird tasting fruity water and spotted a bus that had our station name on
it, We decided no matter how long the bus journey took us we were getting on it, 2
stops later and literally 3 minute’s drive we were at the station, we were just around
the corner all the time! But what a great trip it was, now off to find some
toys! Needless to say when hopefully we go back to Japan I’d love to go again
and this time I’m going in! Below I have put a short video I took that
hopefully gives some of the scale of the samurai wall and the king of monsters
Goijira!(look out for the man with the broom!)
Thanks,
Jonny T.
