福島県須賀川市を満喫！円谷英二ミュージアムと翠ヶ丘公園

During Golden Week, my older son and I took a trip to Sukagawa in Fukushima Prefecture to visit the Eiji Tsuburaya Museum. Eiji Tsuburaya was a filmmaker best known for co-creating the Godzilla and Ultraman series, and he’s often called the “Father of Tokusatsu.”

Interestingly, there isn’t really an English word for tokusatsu. We usually describe it as live-action films and TV shows that rely heavily on practical special effects rather than CGI. And so because Eiji Tsuburaya is from Sukagawa is why this museum was built, perhaps to honour his legacy and the town he grew up in. 

My son is a huge Godzilla fan, so he was excited to visit the museum. Although it’s quite small, there were plenty of fascinating exhibits, including detailed models from many of the Godzilla movies. There weren’t as many Ultraman models inside the museum, but Sukagawa makes up for it with the many Ultraman statues that line the streets around the city.

One of the highlights of our visit was a short documentary that showed how a modern film crew created a mock Godzilla movie using the same practical effects and filming techniques as the original films. The movie was filmed in Sukagawa, making it even more interesting. My son was completely absorbed by it—he enjoyed it so much that he stayed to watch it a second time!

After visiting the museum, we headed to Midorigaoka Park, which is only a short distance away. I was surprised by how large and beautiful the park was. The lush greenery and peaceful atmosphere made it feel almost magical. At times, it reminded me of a scene from a Studio Ghibli movie.

The park has beautiful gardens, ponds, fountains, and sculptures scattered throughout the grounds. There was also an impressive playground featuring a maze of tunnels, pipes, and slides. It was easy to see why it was so popular with local families. My son spent ages exploring every corner and had a fantastic time.

One thing we hadn’t realised before our trip was that this year marks the 60th anniversary of Ultraman. Since my son is much more interested in Godzilla, we didn’t plan our visit around the celebration, but it turned out to be a nice surprise. If you’re an Ultraman fan, this is an especially great year to visit Sukagawa.

If you ever find yourself travelling through Fukushima, I’d definitely recommend stopping by the Eiji Tsuburaya Museum. Whether you’re a fan of Godzilla, Ultraman, classic Japanese films, or you’re simply looking for a relaxing day out with the family, Sukagawa is well worth a visit. And while you’re there, don’t miss Midorigaoka Park—it was one of the highlights of our trip.

【スタッフによる要約】

船橋校のMark先生が、ゴールデンウィークに訪れた福島県須賀川市への家族旅行をご紹介します。ゴジラやウルトラマンで有名な円谷英二ミュージアムや、自然豊かな翠ヶ丘公園など、親子で楽しめるスポットについて書いています.