Posted September 26, 2017 by Jonelle Patrick Awesome Stuff To Do

Giant Gundam Is BACK!

The Giant Gundam is finally back!

And it does not disappoint! I was super sad when I heard that the old giant robot outside the DiverCity shopping mall in Odaiba was going away last March, but am happy to report that Gundam 2.0 is bigger, badder and even more entertaining than Gundam 1.0!

At 65 feet of evil-fighting robo-goodness, not only does it light up like a boss, this one *moves*!

From the back you can see its badass glowing jetpack

And because this one is a Unicorn model, transforming to Destroyer Mode is the main attraction

Here’s a clip of the uni-horn morphing into attack mode bodaciousness:

But it’s not enough for 2.0 to be standing there, looking like it could take on the galaxy with one armored fist tied behind its back – there’s also a sound & light show that goes with it! Eight times a day (at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00 & 21:30) there’s a five-minute anime episode choreographed with projection mapping, as the giant figure shifts along with the story.

If you’re geographically challenged and can’t quite make it to Tokyo to see for yourself, here’s a short video of one of last night’s performances:

But that’s not all! Amazing though it may seem, if you’re a true model-builder, the seven-story glowing robot will not be the highlight of your night. Because inside the DiverCity mall is a spanking new Gundam Base – the most gigantic Gundam model store on the planet.

This is just the Perfect Grade corner – the store itself goes on and on, with between 2,000 and 3,000 different model kits for sale, including rare and vintage models

Perfectly constructed Gundams in every series are displayed like the crown jewels…

…including a big display of one-of-a-kind fanbuilt versions like these

Every grade of Gundam is lavishly represented, from easiest to hardest…

…and they even have a workshop where you can spend a few happy hours building the model you just bought

They provide all the tools, plus a staff member who can help you if you get stuck

Even if you weren’t a fan before, I bet you’ll go away a convert!

Gundam Base hours: Open every day, 10:00 – 21:00

Giant Gundam showtimes: Daily, at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00 & 21:30

Admission: Everything is free, including workshop time

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When not in thrall to giant robots, Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Tokyo

“A genuinely gripping crime thriller which wrong-foots and perplexes the reader throughout, drawing us in emotionally . . . Highly recommended.” –Raven Crime Reads

Nine Years. Nine death anniversaries. Tomorrow will be the tenth. He always comes early to avoid crossing paths with her family. He always comes on the day he actually killed her…*read more*

Jonelle Patrick View All

Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. I'm a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, and a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime. When I'm not in Tokyo, I live in San Francisco. I also host a travel site called The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd Had, so if you're headed to Japan and want to check out the places I take my friends when they're in town, take a look!