01/28/2026
Nijigen no Mori, a large pop culture theme park located on Awaji Island in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture, has opened a new Mothra Exhibition inside its Godzilla Museum. The exhibition runs through September 13, 2026, and is presented as part of the park’s flagship attraction, Godzilla Interception Operation. Designed to be approachable for visitors from around the globe, the exhibition explores the legacy of one of Japan’s most recognizable movie monsters through visuals, props, and interactive elements. The timing also aligns with 2026 being officially celebrated as “Mothra Year.”
The exhibition centers on Mothra, with a special focus on the Heisei-era Mothra film trilogy released between 1996 and 1998 (Rebirth of Mothra, Rebirth of Mothra II, and Rebirth of Mothra III). The show features rare screen-used props from these productions, including materials used in scenes featuring Mothra Leo and Mothra’s larval forms. These items offer a fascinating look at the craftsmanship behind late 1990s Japanese special effects filmmaking.
Other highlights of the Mothra Special Exhibition include a large Mothra egg display and a towering panel measuring roughly four meters in height, both designed as photo-friendly installations. Together, the displays present Mothra as a guardian figure tied to environmental themes that became central to the character during the Heisei period, as well as a recurring counterbalance to Godzilla’s destructive force across the film series.
Visitors are also invited to participate in an on-site popularity vote featuring monsters from the Heisei Mothra series. The first round focuses on Mothra, and the top-ranked result may be turned into a future item for sale. Voting takes place at the venue, giving fans a direct way to influence upcoming merchandise plans.
Exclusive Mothra commemorative goods are available at the Godzilla Shop next to the museum, including towels, pouches, drinkware, coasters, pins, stickers, and randomly packed metal badges. Limited-time collaboration food items inspired by Mothra Leo and the larval form are also being offered within the attraction area.
The Mothra Special Exhibition runs from December 20, 2025, through September 13, 2026, inside the Godzilla Museum at Nijigen no Mori. Admission is included with selected ticket tiers for Godzilla Interception Operation, and visitors who purchase tickets in advance receive a limited-edition exhibition postcard. Timed to coincide with both the 30th anniversary of the Heisei Mothra trilogy and the character’s 65th anniversary year, the exhibition offers a celebration of Mothra’s long-standing role within the Godzilla series for anyone visiting Japan.
