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Remember
those afternoons in the ’90s spent glued to anime, imagining giant robots
saving the world? At Gundam Factory Yokohama, that fantasy doesn’t just stay on
screen—it literally walks and talks. Standing 18 meters tall, the life-size RX-78-2 Gundam moves, poses, and reminds you that sometimes childhood dreams
grow up right alongside you.
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| From childhood wish to reality at The Gundam Factory Yokohama |
It’s always
been my lifelong dream to see those anime come alive—or at least replicas of
them—and wow, dreams really do come true. Just a train ride from Shibuya, the
giant robot sits at Yokohama Pier like a scene straight out of the anime, as if
the Gundam has arrived to save you in distress.
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| Massive! |
The factory isn’t
just about staring up in awe (though you’ll do plenty of that), there’s also an
exhibition hall explaining the engineering wizardry behind making a robot move,
a dock where you can get up close to Gundam’s head, and a café where even the
lattes come with Gundam flair. It’s equal parts nostalgia trip and futuristic
showcase.
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| Oh how cool is this?! |
We tried the Gundam Café above the exhibition hall, ordered a few treats, and watched the Gundam show.It was a decent meal, making yourself comfortable wathing the gigantic mecha doing his thing. I mean, it's pretty normal to think that "I was in an actual anime setting, right?, or so I thought. It was so wonderful that I wanted to see it again.
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| A lot of merchandise are displayed at the store below the cafe. |
Gundam merchandise were also tempting to spend more than what you have budgeted. Below the cafe, people literally lined up to be at the store to get at least one of the merchandise displayed there -- all from shirts to action figures -- a vast collection that many otaku are eyeing on. It was one the highlights of the trip as well.
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| Every otaku's dream of having |
Right
outside, you’ll find Yamashita Park. We went there to experience what a
Japanese park looks like—and it did not disappoint. It was huge! We visited in
winter, but I bet the flowers are stunning in spring or summer. The Guardian of Water (Mizu no Shugoshin)
statue was beautiful, while the Yokohama Marine Tower
stood tall in the background. Ducks swimming in the water added to the quiet,
seaside atmosphere. The cold breeze freezing the tip of your nose made you
realize—you love it here.
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| One of the attractions at The Yamashita Park |
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| It just feels good being here |
Why visit? Because seeing Gundam stride across the Yokohama waterfront is like watching your childhood imagination break free from the TV and stomp into reality. It’s proof that dreams don’t have to fade—sometimes they get built, bolted together, and given hydraulics.
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| Thank you for the wonderful memories :) |
UPDATE:
Unfortunately, Gundam Factory’s last show was on March 31, 2024, marking the
closure of the attraction before dismantling the life-size moving RX-78F00
Gundam. According to their website, it opened on December 19, 2020, with an
original closing plan in March 2022, but was extended due to its popularity. We
were so lucky to experience it and enjoy its wonders. It broke my heart to learn about
its closure, but with another Gundam being built in Osaka, that’s my motivation
to visit Japan once again.
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