Odaiba
Odaiba: The Gundam Statue
by Simone Ottuzzi - Omotenashi Anime
An icon of Odaiba
In the futuristic district of Odaiba, inside the sprawling DiverCity Tokyo Plaza shopping mall, stands one of Tokyo's most spectacular and beloved attractions: the life-size statue of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam, located in the Festival Plaza area on the second floor of the mall.
The Gundam's evolution over time
The story began in 2009, when a life-size statue of the RX-78-2 Gundam was installed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Gundam series. This original version was later removed in 2017.
In September 2017, the new, far more imposing Unicorn Gundam statue was unveiled: standing 19.7 meters tall and weighing 49 tons.
Features and spectacle
The statue faithfully recreates the anime's mobile suit thanks to a complex mechanical system: it transforms from "Unicorn" mode into "Destroy" mode, opening up in several places to reveal an imposing glowing red structure (psycho-frame). LED lights and sound effects make the whole display truly striking.
Show times
• Daytime shows: transformations at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM.
• Evening shows: every 30 minutes from 7:30 to 9:30 PM, with video projections onto the statue's body and musical accompaniment, creating an immersive visual and sound experience.
• Winter Light-Up: from November 30 to February 16, tricolor illuminations celebrating the saga's 45th anniversary.
Related experiences
Inside the same complex you'll find Gundam Base Tokyo (7th floor), a paradise for fans: display cases with thousands of model kits (Gunpla), workshops, a build workspace and merchandise.
The mall offers over 154 shops, entertainment spaces like the Gundam Café, virtual reality games, and other nearby attractions like teamLab Borderless and Palette Town.
How to get there and practical info
• How to get there: Yurikamome line to Daiba Station, or the Rinkai Line to Tokyo Teleport, both a few minutes' walk away.
• Admission: the statue is freely accessible and can be viewed for free, active 24 hours a day.
In summary
• Where: in front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, Odaiba, 5–7 minutes from the main stations.
• What you'll see: the life-size Unicorn Gundam statue (19.7 m, 49 t) with animated transformation and light shows.
• When to visit: daytime shows at 11:00 AM/1:00 PM/3:00 PM/5:00 PM; evening shows every 30 min from 7:30 to 9:30 PM; special winter atmosphere with themed illuminations.
• Extra experiences: visit Gundam Base Tokyo, themed shops and cafés, shopping and general entertainment in the mall.
This statue is the perfect mix of open-air museum, pop-culture hub, spectacular engineering and exciting shopping — a must for every fan of Japanese culture and anyone who loves spectacular experiences!
