The Godzilla zipline experience at Nijigen No Mori theme park on Awaji Island, Japan, starts with a seven-minute video explaining why the figure stands on the island and what the viewer will soon go through. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
On Awaji Island, in the eastern part of the Inland Sea, the intrepid may zipline straight into the mouth of Japan’s most recognizable reptilian monster.
The Nijigen No Mori theme park, developed by Toho Studios, presents ziplining guests with two options: the stalwart may fly right into the mouth of the 65-foot-high beast (absent its breath of fire); the timorous may glide alongside the exterior.
The experience starts with a seven-minute video in Japanese with English subtitles explaining why the Godzilla figure stands on the island and what the viewer will soon experience.
Tickets for the park and zipline experience are available onsite at the National Awaji-island Institute of Godzilla Disaster. Ages 12 and older pay 3,800 yen or $26.86; for 11 and younger, admission is 2,200 yen.
Visitors not interested in ziplining pay 1,700 yen and children younger than 3 are admitted free. Tickets are also available on the official park website.
Ticket in hand, I lined up for the Internal Body Monitoring Course, the zipline ride into Godzilla’s gaping maw. The Body Surface Monitoring Course, the alternative, sends riders along the statuesque monster’s flank. To experience the zipline, guests must be at least 3-foot-9, weigh between 55 and 243 pounds and sign a waiver.
The zipline course is 49 feet high and 531 feet long. Godzilla is 82 feet wide and 180 feet long.
Zipliners head for Godzilla's gape at Nijigen No Mori, a theme park in Hyogo prefecture, Japan, June 21, 2023. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
It was my first time ziplining and I’m not too fond of heights, but I felt safe throughout the experience. The staff helped me put on my gear and triple checked the equipment.
Riders may store loose items for 100 yen in lockers before hitching up to the zipline. A lanyard is available to hold your phone securely so you can record your adventure without the worry of dropping it.
The staff directed me up a ladder and hooked me up to the zipline. With my hands on the zipline handlebars, I leaned back, counted down from three and took off for Godzilla’s mouth.
As a Godzilla fan, it was a unique experience and not half as scary as I thought it was going to be.
After finishing my zipline adventure, I headed down to the shooting game at the bottom of the zipline beside Godzilla. The mission is to remove Godzilla cells that have scattered from the monster and with a laser gun stop the cells from proliferating while you dodge their attacks. You want to aim for a high score displayed in front of you.
Across from the shooting range is the world’s first permanent Godzilla Museum, according to the park’s official website.
The Godzilla Museum at the Nijigen No Mori theme park has large-scale dioramas of scenes from the original “Godzilla” all the way to 2016’s “Shin Godzilla,” along with storyboards, sketches from the making of the movies and suits worn by the actors. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
The Godzilla Museum at the Nijigen No Mori theme park has large-scale dioramas of scenes from the original “Godzilla” all the way to 2016’s “Shin Godzilla,” along with storyboards, sketches from the making of the movies and suits worn by the actors. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
The museum has large-scale dioramas of scenes from the original “Godzilla” all the way to 2016’s “Shin Godzilla,” along with storyboards, sketches from the making of the movies and suits worn by the actors.
The last stop is a director's chair where guests may pose with a megaphone like they are directing a Godzilla movie.
Finally, guests are directed to a stage and a Godzilla suit used in the movie “Godzilla Final Wars,” set against Awaji Island and the park, for a photo and a video. The two may be purchased for 3,000 yen. The video was neat because it looked like I was fighting Godzilla.
I then headed to the Godzilla shop, which sells Godzilla-themed phone cases, T-shirts, keychains, postcards, curries, cups and much more.
Mothra curry from the Nijigen No Mori theme park on Awaji Island, Japan. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
A Godzilla creampuff from the Nijigen No Mori theme park on Awaji Island, Japan. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
A restaurant beside the museum serves Godzilla-themed food, including curry with a Godzilla footprint in the rice; a Mothra white curry, in the shape of the giant moth monster that fought Godzilla; Godzilla cream puffs and Godzilla beer.
The whole experience, which takes three to four hours, is a must for Godzilla fans.
On the QT
Directions: 2425-2 Kusumoto, Awaji City, Hyogo, 656-2301. Best to take a car or taxi; it’s a 30-minute walk from the Shin-Kobe train station or a seven-minute walk from Kenritsu Awajishima Koen bus station
Times: Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Costs: Admission is 2,200 to 3,800 yen
Food: An on-site eatery serves a Godzilla-themed menu, including curry and beer.
Information: Online: nijigennomori.com/godzilla_awajishima
