The Gundam franchise has been an icon of Japanese nerd culture for decades. From manga to anime to model kits, the ever-popular giant fighting robot genre has extended far beyond Japan’s shores. And no greater testament to the beloved franchise stands than the life-sized Unicorn Gundam statue. It has stood for close to nine years and will sadly be dismantled on August 31, 2026. Before we say goodbye, let me take you on a stamp rally tour to celebrate its legacy.
All Roads Lead to Gundam
The statue, and by extension the stamp rally, are situated in Odaiba, a futuristic shopping and business district built on a series of man-made islands in Tokyo Bay. From June 6th to July 12th, visitors could go to key locations to stamp a specially made card. As the stamps layered on top of each other, the image of the Unicorn Gundam took shape. Upon completion, you could take your card to “Gundam Base Tokyo” and enter a lottery for a chance to win various prizes.
RALLY! START!
My stamp rally began at Odaiba Kaihin Park Station, the first stop for people visiting Odaiba. I was originally there for another event, but I saw a poster for the stamp rally and thought, “Why not?” I found my first stamp and continued on. As I walked, I was struck by how modern and premium all the buildings and the roads felt. Even the train was a self-operating monorail. It really did feel like a city of the future.
The next stamp was located at the waterbus station, Odaiba-Kai-hinkoen. It offered a beautiful view of the Tokyo skyline and the famous Rainbow Bridge. On my way to Daiba station, where the third stamp was, I passed a replica of the Statue of Liberty. It was originally part of an exhibit to celebrate Japan-France relations, but it was so popular that it was made permanent. Coincidentally, it was July 4th when I visited. The fifth stamp was in the Shiokaze Park Observational Deck. It was a nice break from the bustling commercialism of the island, and I got to see the Yuhi Tower, which aligns perfectly with the sunset on the equinoxes.
Finally, my journey ended at the DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, a huge 7-story shopping and entertainment complex. The Unicorn Gundam stands just outside the entrance to the “Gundam Base Tokyo Annex.” There, I completed my stamp rally and got a QR code for the lottery. I didn’t win any of the prizes, but I had a great time exploring the island and finally seeing the iconic statue in person.
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