Shuwa! the Ultra city Sukagawa【Tokusatsu Archive Centre】
Shuwa! The Ultra city of Sukagawa
【Tokusatsu Archive Centre】
Visited on May 2022
Sukagawa City in Fukushima is the birthplace of Eiji Tsuburaya, the legendary “god of special effects” and creator of Ultraman.
Here, you can explore shops connected to Tsuburaya, find Ultraman merchandise only available in Sukagawa, and dive into the world of tokusatsu culture.
These spots are perfect for families with children—and, of course, a must-visit for any special effects (tokusatsu) fan! 🌟🦸♂️
＊Comments from reporter ’’Yuki’’
So far, only my husband and children have visited, so I was really looking forward to going there myself for the first time during the shoot! Even though I live in Sukagawa, there are so many shops I haven’t explored yet. I can’t wait to go back with my family next time.
Enjoy the magic of special effects! Become your dream monsters and heroes with a miniature set!
The facility opened on November 3, 2020 as a central hub for Sukagawa’s Tokusatsu Cultural City Project.
In collaboration with the Anime Tokusatsu Archive Centre (ATAC), a certified non-profit organization, the facility collects, preserves, and restores valuable tokusatsu materials. It also conducts research and works to pass on the techniques and culture of special effects to future generations. 🎬✨
Atrium
The atrium’s walls are adorned with paintings by Fuchimu Shimakura, known as the “god of clouds.” Director Eiji Tsuburaya loved airplanes from a young age, and here you can enjoy the stunning scenery of planes soaring across the sky! ✈️
Next to the atrium is a library housing over 1,000 books on special effects. Fans will also find exciting spots throughout the facility, including visitor message cards on the walls and autographs from special effects creator teams. It’s a must-see for anyone passionate about tokusatsu! 🎬✨
Repository
In addition to Ultraman masks and miniature sets, the repository also houses and restores battleships used in “The Battle of the Sea of Japan.”
In the glass storage, visitors can view valuable items from over 1,000 collections. Photo panels and videos showcase the incredible skills of the special effects creators behind these works.
Don’t miss the CGI video of 3D-scanned items—these rare artifacts are too delicate to touch in real life, but you can explore them virtually in stunning detail! 🎬✨
Miniature film set
On the 2nd floor, you can step into the world of heroes and monsters with a miniature set inspired by the suburbs of Sukagawa! Designed to emphasize perspective, the set showcases the ingenuity of special effects creators from the era before CGI technology.
The scenes look even more realistic through a camera lens—perfect for taking memorable photos. You can also have fun spotting real shops from Sukagawa and discovering the city’s mascots hidden in the set.
Be amazed by the intricate craftsmanship of the buildings recreating Nihonbashi from the Meiji to Showa eras, featured in the historical TV series Idaten: Tokyo Olympic Banashi! 🦸♂️🏙️✨
Audio-visual room
In the audio-visual room, special effects fans can enjoy hourly screenings of the short film Giant God Soldiers Appear in Tokyo, directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, as well as a documentary on its production, Behind the Giant God Soldiers Appear in Tokyo. Screenings run from 10:00 to 16:00.
For a richer experience, we highly recommend visiting the moldings for modeling on the 1st floor, the Giant God Soldiers used in filming, and the miniatures in the park before the show. Seeing these up close will give you a deeper appreciation of the essence of special effects—the movement, scale, and video processing that bring these creations to life! 🎬✨
Landing
The landing features Instagram-worthy spots, including a tapestry depicting a day at the studio and a window with beautiful, stained glass–style cut-out artworks—perfect for capturing memorable photos! 📸✨
Sukaking
A gigantic monster named “Sukaking,” inspired by Sukagawa City, dominates the entire outer wall of the facility! The mural stretches an impressive 24 meters, making it an unmissable landmark for visitors. 🎨🦖✨
Sukagawa Tokusatsu Archive Centre
Address: 22 Nakachimae, Hashirata, Sukagawa, Fukushima.
Tel: 0248-94-5200
Opening hours: 9:00~17:00
Closed on Tuesdays (Will be closed on next day when tuesday is a public holiday)
Free entrance (Booking required with a group of more than 10 people)
Parkings available at north side of the building (By the Sukaking wall)
More from Sukagawa here