A giant Evangelion Unit 01 statue now stands proudly in Hamamatsu, central Japan. The six-meter-tall statue, part of a local tourism campaign, will be on display at the Hamamatsu city hall until January 2026. The installation aims to capitalize on the city’s connection to the iconic anime series and attract more visitors.
The purple giant humanoid robot, featured in the movie “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time,” has quickly become a popular attraction. It dominates the lobby of the Hamamatsu city hall, inviting both locals and tourists to visit. The statue will be available for viewing on weekends and public holidays, making it accessible to many.
A crowd of about 170 people gathered to see the statue before its official opening at 10:30 a.m. The opening ceremony included a performance by the city firefighters’ music band, who played the anime’s famous theme song. This event marks the beginning of Hamamatsu’s ongoing campaign to promote local tourism through the Evangelion connection.
This campaign celebrates the 30th anniversary of the original Evangelion TV series. It follows other Evangelion-themed initiatives in the city. Recently, Tenryu Hamanako Railroad Co. and Enshu Railway Co. launched their own campaigns centered around the city’s Tenryu Futamata Station, which served as the inspiration for Village-3 in the 2021 movie. The station has become a hotspot for anime fans, with a Spear of Longinus statue installed at the station depot in 2023. Evangelion-themed trains also run on occasion.
In addition to the statue, visitors can enjoy special Evangelion-themed one-day unlimited ride passes from the local railways. These passes feature images of the anime’s main character, Shinji Ikari, and pilot Kaworu Nagisa. The city also organizes a stamp rally along the Tenryu Hamanako and Enshu railway lines, where participants can collect stamps at 21 spots. Those who gather at least 10 stamps will receive an exclusive sticker.
Mayor Yusuke Nakano expressed hope that the Evangelion campaign will help people rediscover Hamamatsu’s rich tourism and cultural offerings. The city also plans to explore potential collaborations with other locations, including Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture and Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Both areas have previously run their own Evangelion-themed campaigns, further strengthening the connection between the anime and Japanese tourism.
Evangelion continues to drive significant tourism in Hamamatsu, and with ongoing events, it will likely remain a major draw for fans of the series. Visitors can enjoy the statue, the railway promotions, and explore the anime’s impact on the city’s culture and tourism.
