Spend a Night with Godzilla in Shinjuku
Last month, the Hotel Gracery in Shinjuku debuted a handful of new Godzilla-themed rooms, giving visitors to Tokyo the chance to experience a night like no other. In movies, Godzilla has a tendency to destroy cities or, more accurately, everything in his path. Shinjuku, itself devastated by the monster in three films, has nevertheless decided to make the character ambassador of tourism.
Toho studios, the license owner of Godzilla, has inaugurated a giant statue of the head of the creature, peaking at 52 meters above the ground. The hope is that it will contribute to the prosperity of Shinjuku and Kabukicho, the “red light district” where it was installed.
With a giant dino head on top of Toho Cinema and the Gracery Hotel, it can easily be seen from the Yamanote line. The beast was erected as part of a renovation of the shopping complex that includes both the cinema and the hotel. Six rooms are billed as “Godzilla view rooms,” where you can sleep under the watchful eye and giant fangs of the monster (not recommended for insomniacs or romantic couples!). There is also a “Godzilla room,” which not only has the best views of Godzilla, but is also decorated with movie posters from through the years and a life-sized claw seeming to break down the wall. The Godzilla view rooms start at ¥15,000 per night, while the Godzilla room is ¥39,800 per night during the week and ¥49,800 per night on weekends and holidays.
In addition to the views of the monster, the hotel has also created themed drinks and menus in tribute to Godzilla, and the lobby has various paraphernalia celebrating the glory of the dino from its birth in 1954 until today.
For more information or to book your Godzilla-themed getaway, please visit the Hotel Gracery’s website (Japanese only).
