LaLaport Fukuoka
Japan's Largest Gundam Statue
LaLaport Fukuoka is a modern shopping mall located in the Hakata district, southeast of downtown Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu in Japan. It's mainly visited for its giant statue of a Japanese mecha, the RX-93ff, the largest Gundam in Japan.
Officially named Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport FUKUOKA, the mall opened on April 25, 2022, on the former site of Fukuoka's fruit and vegetable market. Located about a 10-minute drive from the airport and Hakata's JR station, it sits a bit outside the historic city center and caters primarily to the local population.
In the summer of 2022, the main entrance of LaLaport Fukuoka was fitted with Japan's largest Gundam statue, standing 24.8 meters tall and weighing 80 tons. Mecha fans can enjoy this spot in complete peace, far from the crowds around the Gundam statue in Odaiba, Tokyo, while getting up close with a special version of the 𝛎 (or "Nu") Gundam (νガンダム or ニューガンダム) created exclusively for this complex.
🤖 RX-93ff 𝛎 Gundam, Fukuoka's Exclusive Statue
Named RX-93ff 𝛎 Gundam, Fukuoka's giant statue is a variation on the well-known "Nu Gundam" model from the franchise, which appears in the 1988 animated film Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack. In the film, it's piloted by Amuro Ray, the hero of the Mobile Suit Gundam anime.
For this life-size version, the RX-93ff 𝛎 Gundam features a slightly different tricolor scheme than the original, along with a few design tweaks. On its back, it's equipped with Long Range Fin Funnels technology, a kind of long-range fin-shaped thrusters.
Standing directly on the ground, the statue impresses both Gundam fans and casual visitors alike. Onlookers marvel at its enormous "feet," each roughly the size of an adult on their own. Visitors can walk all the way around it, then step back to watch it move. The right shoulder and arm and the head are all articulated to recreate the scene in which the mecha pushes back the asteroid Axis with its raised finger. The movements remain fairly light and slow, set to the film's main theme.
Fukuoka's Gundam comes to life every day:
- During the day, once an hour between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; then,
- In the evening, every half hour between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., accompanied by various nighttime projections and animations.
Visitors appreciate the elegance and level of detail of this rather impressive giant mecha. The 4th floor of LaLaport is also dedicated entirely to Gundam, with a merchandise shop called Gundam Side-F Fukuoka and indoor sports entertainment to try out at VS Park With G.
🛍️ A Mall for Everyday Shopping
Beyond the pilgrimage for Gundam fans, LaLaport is also a great spot to shop like a local in Fukuoka, with around 220 stores covering fashion, lifestyle, and gourmet groceries. Restaurants and a large food court round out the offering, making it easy to grab a meal on site. While fairly quiet on weekdays, the complex draws bigger crowds on weekends.
Either way, its newness gives it a pleasant atmosphere where visitors can move around with ease, plus plenty of free seating areas to sit and take a break, away from the rain ☔️ or sun, for instance.
For tourists visiting Fukuoka, here are some recommended stores:
- Uniqlo and GU, for clothing;
- Francfranc, for modern Japanese home decor;
- 3COINS+plus, for cute, practical, and affordable souvenirs starting at ¥300 (~US$1.91), a step up from 100-yen shops like Daiso;
- Loft, also great for typically Japanese gifts such as stationery or trendy and seasonal accessories;
- Lego, for its impressive large-scale brick displays inspired by local culture and cuisine;
- Jump Shop, for fans of One Piece and other manga published in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine.
None of these chains are exclusive to LaLaport Fukuoka and they can be found all over Japan, but what stands out here is the chance to browse at a relaxed pace, without the crowds and often at slightly lower prices than in the malls of Japan's bigger cities on Honshu.
On top of that, for travelers feeling a bit homesick, the complex includes plenty of international brands, especially when it comes to food. You can, for example, stop by the bakery and pick up a baguette that turns out to be pretty good! It's also possible to shop for groceries "just like back home," choosing loose fruits and vegetables, or finding imported goods like Italian pasta at the Kaldi store, or Belgian Godiva chocolates.
LaLaport Fukuoka is also a great destination for families, with numerous kids' fashion shops, a Toho movie theater, a Namco arcade, the Fukuoka Toy Museum dedicated to wooden toys, and the Kidzania theme park 🎡, where children are invited to try out different professions.