It’s a good year for Gundam fans: on top of the extension of the Yokohama Gundam Factory which will now run through March 2023, two more large-scale Gundam attractions are set to open in Fukuoka this month. The first is the 24.8m-tall life-sized Nu Gundam mecha, which will be unveiled at the Mitsui Shopping Park LalaPort Fukuoka on April 25. The model, which is an exact replica of the RX-93 v Gundam feature in ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack’ (1988), will be the tallest Gundam statue in the world to date.
The second attraction is the Gundam Park Fukuoka, which is inside the same shopping mall. It will serve as an indoor complex for mecha fans young and old. The mini theme park will comprise three main areas: VS Park With G, Gundam Side-F, and the Namco arcade.
The VS (variety sports) Park features a series of video game stations that require quite a bit of movement and agility to pass each round (think Dance Dance Revolution or Wii Sports). You might have played some of these games if you’ve visited other VS Parks around Japan, but at VS Park with G, they’ve been given a revamp to feature characters from the Gundam universe and Gundam-themed backdrops.
There are even more games to play at the Namco arcade, which boasts immersive video games like Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield II, where you sit in a cockpit and pilot a mecha. If you’re feeling confident, you could even try your hand at a few of the claw machines, which offer exclusive Gundam prizes for lucky winners.
The Gundam Side-F area is where you can really unleash your inner geek. This is an outer space-themed spot where you can learn more about the Gundam universe through special exhibitions and regularly scheduled events. In addition to a shop where you can buy Gundam merch and figurines, Side-F also has a designated building space where you can unbox your plastic Gundam kits and construct the models on the spot.
Gundam Park Fukuoka is scheduled to open on April 25 2022. For more information, see the official website.
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