The next trip to Japan is hours away. My check-in is complete. I’m off to the airport first thing in the morning. My travel bag is ready and my list of things to do is complete. My prayers are for my mom and family who I live behind for the next ten days. My prayer is for an uneventful trip from on-time departures and arrivals. I’ll fly through Canada rather than the U.S. on my way to Haneda and Tokyo. It’s been a smooth and straightforward trip plan and preparation. I’m looking forward to seeing friends and taking a break from the stress and worry of these times. MyKaiju.com and the Daily page won’t be updated until I return. But please join me on this journey as I journal here each day about its sights and sounds of Tokyo, Godzilla and more.

The morning of the 28th started well. Matt drove me to the airport where there were few for checking and security check. The flight to Toronto is on time. Grateful for the many prayers for safe travel I received. Both flights were on time and without turbulence. The fully-booked flight from Toronto to Tokyo arrived earlier than expected at Haneda on the 29th. Immigration and customs was made fast and efficient by the Visit Japan Web QR code. The 7-Eleven ATM at Haneda was just what I needed before heading to my hotel via the Tokyo Monorail. My capture failed to capture the great views of Tokyo Rainbows Bridge and Tokyo Tower during sunset. My check-in was smooth and my First Cabin is a great upgrade from My Cube. The best part of the night was discovering the CoCo Curry right around the corner from my hotel. After a short shopping spree at 7-Eleven, I jumped into bed exhausted from the long journey.

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Today was a great day. I decided not to go to Nagoya but to go places that would be difficult to visit later in my trip. To start my trip off right I headed to the Godzilla Head atop Hotel Gracery and to see theFinal Wars display on the 8th floor. A short distanced away awaited the flagship Godzilla Store Tokyo where I stuffed a Shin Godzilla bag full of goodies better brought there rather than ordered online. After a short ride on the Ginza Line I was up close with the human-size Yuji Sakai Godzilla 1991 at the new Toho Entertainment Store on the third floor of Chanter in Hibiya Godzilla Square. Exhausted I made a pitstop at the nearby 7-Eleven where I enjoyed my favorite onigiri while watching the Shinkansen trains wiz by the Toho building and hoping Godzilla appear. After my break I marched along Godzilla’s path to the Wako Building. Next I went to the Hakuhinkan Toy Park which alluded me on several recent trips. Lastly, I took a stroll through the amazing Ginza Tsutaya Books before I headed back to my cabin in Akasaka for lunch at CoCo Curry and more rest. It was a busy and simple day but deeply satisfying. Tomorrow morning I need to head back to Shinjuku for the Kaiyodo display Yodobashi Camera before meeting friends at Haneda.

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Another great day that started back at Shinjuku station and searching for the right Yodabashi Camera where the new Kaiyodo ReImagination Godzilla 1954 plastic model kit is on display. I searched on the east from the first to the fifth floors and eventually got pointed to the west side where I arrived just in time to buy the last new ArtPla Godzilla 2023 kit. It was providence because as soon as I picked it up others behind me were looking for more. From there I headed to Shibuya for the Godzilla Store on the 6th floor of Parco. There I enjoyed the Burning Godzilla and added more Bandai figures. I headed over to Mandarake and found some Godzilla books I needed. As I headed to get lunch fellow Godzilla friend and collector Helmi was on his way to Tower Records just blocks from my location. Tower was in my list too. So we met there before our scheduled meeting at Haneda airport. After some browsing I headed back to my hotel for a meal and rest before heading to the airport to greet friends Leslie and Sandra. And as I waited for them to arrive Godzilla had already landed.

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Halloween began with a return to Shinjuku in search of the elusive Kaiyodo Re-Imagine Godzilla model kit and display. After bouncing from one Yodobashi store to another I finally found it on display but it was not yet for sale until tomorrow. But upon sight I snatched up the new PlaFig Godzilla Minus One kit. It’s Halloween and I headed to Shibuya like the costumed multitudes descend upon its streets as night falls. I started at the Shibuya Godzilla store on the 6th floor of the PARCO building, a short walk from Scramble Street. Burning Godzilla steals the shows, screeching, glowing, growling and shining to the score of his final Heisei appearance. After taking it all in, I departed with another bag of irresistible goodies. From there I walked over to Mandarake and picked up a few Godzilla books that were missing from my shelves. As I walked I met fellow Godzilla fan and friend Helmi at Tower Records. We coordinated our arrival at Haneda Airport later that day to greet Leslie and Sandra who are on their first trip to Japan. Little did they know Godzilla was there to greet them too. After escorting them to their hotel, my evening ended with more CoCo curry.

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There could be no better Sunday morning than one spent with dear friend Makuta-san. While enjoying breakfast and beverages, we talked for four hours about everything from Godzilla, King Kong and kaiju projects to religion, politics and philosophy. We exchanged gifts. Makuta-san blessed me with wonderful things he knew where in my wheel house. Thank you so much! After I headed to Odaiba and the Godzilla Store in anticipation of the arrival of our Godzilla gang. The Godzilla Store did not disappoint. A giant Shin Godzilla greets shoppers upon entrance and there is a giant Godzilla gashapon to score upon exit. As I shopped the team from Kaiju Eiga Fan Club (Kaiju Eiga News) introduced themselves to me. I was so surprised and honored that they follow MyKaiju. Now I follow them! I didn’t spend the afternoon with the crew as planned. They spent the morning visiting the Godzilla slide at the Flower Park. But they were there longer than expected. So after a plate of spaghetti I decided to head back home because it was getting late and the crowd was overwhelming. The sunset at Odaiba was beautiful.

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Wow! Godzilla Fest 2025 at the Tokyo Dome was awesome! When we arrived the crowds were ahead of us and the long lines had formed. It was a beautiful but breeze Monday. At every turn Tokyo Dome makes you take pictures. We walked around and accessed the situation and made our plan. We got our number for the merch line and headed to the stage line. And we were so fortunate that we got the last few seats on the last row of the seating area before the stage. Right from the start Director Yamazaki unveiled the title of his sequel to the Oscar winning Godzilla -1.0, Godzilla -0.0 (Godzilla Minus Zero). And with that my day was done and over! We were blown away! The opening welcome was followed by latest news which included the new TMK Godzilla 2023 plastic model kit on display with its holographic Godzilla Card Game exclusive card. Next up was the Godzilla vs Destoroyah discussion that didn’t disappoint. After we departed and I headed into the merch line. My dear friend Yuu-san snatched up for me the available stickers and various free merch and print material. We had to leave early but later I caught the amazing new Godzilla short. I loved it! I love MireGoji, burning MireGoji. All of it! Today was another great Godzilla Day. I hope you enjoyed yours!

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After Godzilla Day we headed to Toho Studios where all the magic happens. It was a gorgeous day to walk through the Setagaya streets and neighborhood to Godzilla’s house. And along the way we spotted Mt Fuji! The excitement was across our faces standing face-to-face with the Heisei Godzilla statue and mural. Cars and crowds were moving in and out of the studio leaving me curious about who might have been among them. Since we were in the neighborhood we thought we swing by and see MireGoji at the Setagaya Literary Museum but upon arrival the facility was closed for renovations. Disappointed but not down we headed to Ginza to march with Godzilla past the Wako Building to Toho Cinemas and Hibiya Godzilla Square and the Shin Godzilla statue. We checked out the human-sized Godzilla 1991 while shopping at the Toho Entertainment Store and Director Kawakita’s Godzilla at Midtown. We didn’t have enough of the Big G so we went to Shibuya Station through the famous scramble street to see Godzilla meltdown at the Godzilla Store. The shop is small but the shopping was good! Then we descended down into Mandarake Shibuya for a look at their sofubi, books and more. The day had grown long and our energy was depleted. We headed home. I retired after another bowl of CoCo curry. I went to bed with one mission on my mind, go back to the literary museum to have a meal with Godzilla.

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We had a great day that began in Asakusa and Senkoji temple. Crowed with tourist, we took it all in with green tea ice cream and melon bread. I found a Noh mask that MechaGodzilla’s face was based upon along the walk through the famous shopping street. The young girls, ladies and women were dressed in kimonos posing for pictures. We sat on a bench to rest before heading off to a secret lunch. I’ll have to share that another day. After a wonderful bowl of spaghetti at Pipot in Kurumae we headed back to have dessert with Godzilla at the Setagaya Literary Museum that was closed for renovations that day before. Godzilla did not let us down. He had been spruced up and 3D scanned since our last dinner date. We enjoyed apple pie, vanilla ice cream, cake and coffee. As planned we headed to see Tokyo Tower after dark. We were blown away by the view as we watched a short lightning show at the top of the hour. Tired but not done Akihabara was our final destination for the day. Along the way to Mandarake I got the Ichibankuji Minus One bust. Our last stop before heading home was Volts where I found the Meterioid Super XIII. Another amazing day of fun and unexpected surprises.

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Today was my last full day of the trip and it was good. The trips ends as it began with a look at the Godzilla Head atop Hotel Gracery in Shinjuku. This time I got a peek of a Godzilla room and more. Next stop was we my last Godzilla Store but where they all began. I loaded up again a few remaining goodies. After a delicious meal with friends at Sizzler and their amazing salad bar, I headed back to the hotel to pack up what remains. I think this is my largest haul from Japan ever. I feel asleep early knowing it will be a big effort to get my bags to the airport.

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The final day in Japan and of my trip ended on Nov 8th back home in Philadelphia after a 12-hour flight to Toronto. I hated to see my trip come to an end. It was a great time with friends celebrating Godzilla along the way together. I will miss those I left behind and return with memories of a lifetime. If you have not been to Japan, do yourself a favor and plan your trip. You won’t be disappointed. Now, there’s so much to talk about, photos to share and news to catch up on. Social media is buzzing after the Godzilla Fest reveal of Godzilla Minus Zero. The November edition of MyKaiju The Daily will begin soon. See you there! Thanks for following my Japan 2025 trip.

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