Gundam Factory Yokohama

Overview

Gundam Factory Yokohama was a limited-run entertainment complex at Yamashita Pier in Yokohama's Naka Ward, centered on an 18-metre-tall moving Gundam from the famous Japanese anime franchise. Billed as the first moving mech of its kind, the towering figure drew visitors from Japan and abroad from its opening on December 19, 2020. Its waterfront setting gave the giant machine a scale that photos could barely capture.

Highlights

• ●The roughly ten-minute activation performance of the 18-metre moving Gundam
• ●The Gundam Dock viewing deck for a close, upward look at the machine
• ●The Gundam Lab exhibit revealing the mechanics and development story
• ●The waterfront scene where sea and giant mech shared one frame

History

The attraction was conceived to mark the 40th anniversary of the Gundam franchise and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but construction was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It opened on December 19, 2020, one day after an opening ceremony featuring a live performance of the anniversary theme song. Originally scheduled to close in March 2022, its lasting popularity pushed the final date to March 31, 2024, when a closing ceremony reportedly featured a show of roughly 1,000 drones and fireworks.

Map

35.4467, 139.6541 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Stroll through Yamashita Park and Yokohama Chinatown before heading to the pier
2. 2Watch the activation show from the Gundam Dock deck and photograph the figure up close
3. 3Learn how it moved and was built at the Gundam Lab
4. 4Return after sunset to see the illuminated night-time version

Did you know?

💡 The full-scale moving Gundam was supported and driven by an armature attached to its back, so it resembled a giant articulated figure rather than a truly self-walking robot. The exhibit had two pillars: Gundam Dock, a hangar-style viewing structure, and Gundam Lab, which explained the engineering behind it.

Nearby spots