Mecha fans, fancy living out your fantasy as a Gundam pilot in Tokyo? Well, you can’t (yet) but here’s the next best thing – getting up close and personal with a moving Gundam at the Gundam Factory in Yokohama.
Currently stationed at Yamashita Pier in Naka Ward, Gundam Factory Yokohama is a time-limited installation whose lease was recently extended a second time till 31 March 2024.
The easiest way to access it is via Motomachi-Chūkagai Station, the final station on the Minatomirai Line. With Chinatown situated on the other side of the station, you can easily combine both spots with a walk around Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.
To say that Bandai Namco put in an incredible amount of imagination behind this place is an understatement. Walking up, you get an overwhelming sense that this is no ordinary installation, with two-storey container buildings set up to resemble actual factory boxes.
There is also an entire backstory to this place. According to various staged photos and exhibits, Gundam Factory Yokohama is the current docking station for a Gundam that was previously lost after a battle between Earth and space, then recovered in Yamashita Pier. With this Gundam’s restoration, a startup experiment is now underway, complete with a team of scientists and engineers.
Stories aside, the feeling of walking out to a 17-meter tall Gundam is nothing short of incredible. Even more so with a glorious sunset in the background as you contemplate this awe-inspiring entity. You can also hang out by the conference room to catch Minatomirai in all its glory in between shows.
Speaking of shows, it wouldn’t be moving Gundam without the big boy himself busting some moves. There are two shows you can catch, both with full and truncated versions:
- Standard Performance: 8 minutes 45 seconds (standby mode: 5 minutes 20 seconds)
- F00/AI Awakening!: 11 minutes 45 seconds (truncated version: 4 minutes 35 seconds)
You can check out specific show times here. While the idea of a life-size Gundam moving is impressive by itself, I highly recommend staying a bit longer to catch the full F00/AI Awakening sequence. Not only does it feature additional dialogue, but also there’s a segment in which the cockpit opens to reveal the “pilot” inside for extra realism.
Note that all shows are solely in Japanese. If you have time to spare, you can also head up to the Gundam Dock Tower for an added fee and view the Gundam up close in all its glory.
Customers at the Gundam Cafe can also get access to restricted viewing spots – good news if you’re visiting on a rainy day.
Take home a piece of the Gundam Factory with you at the Gundam Base Yokohama Satellite where you can find all sorts of exclusive figures and merch. Sadly, no Haros were available when I visited but, the Haro popcorn holders are pretty cute and reminiscent of similarly-themed merch at the likes of Disneyland and Universal Studios!
You can’t say you’ve visited a Gundam Factory, made up or not, without seeing firsthand how these giant, humanoid vehicles are assembled. The Academy is one of the more missable areas as its fully concealed, but here is where you can live out (part of) your Gundam pilot fantasies with hands-on experience corners and even a simulator! Best of all, the staff are dressed in lab coats so as to maintain the illusion of a Gundam training centre.
Whether you are a casual viewer or a hardcore fan, Gundam Factory Yokohama is a must-visit. So if you haven’t headed to Yokohama, now’s a good time as it’s not set in stone where this larger-than-life experience is headed next!
Address: 279-25 Yamashitacho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0023, Japan
Google Maps
Nearest Station: Motomachi-Chūkagai
Admission Dates: Till 31 March 2024
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 11am – 8pm (last admission: 7pm)
Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays: 10am – 8pm (last admission: 7pm)
Closed on Tuesday
Contact: Website
Admission:
Entrance Ticket: ¥1,650 (adults 13 years old and above), ¥1,100 (children aged 7 – 12 years old)
Gundam-Dock Tower and Entrance: ¥3,330
Chue On It 