Smarter Travel.com: 13 Thrilling Real-Life Horror Locations

Regular readers of this blog know that I specialize in Japanese science-fiction and fantasy movie locations and landmarks which resulted in the world's first and only travel guide to those places, The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.


Right, the Shibuya 109 building in Tokyo, Japan that was demolished by Gamera and Megaguirus in two different movies.

I received a notice about an article on 13 horror movie locations from Smarter Travel.com.

They start their article with:

Happy Friday the 13th! Bored with the usual slasher movie marathon routine? Experience the terror first-hand by visiting a real-life horror movie location. Just make sure to bring along a friend who's a slower runner than you.

The locations covered include Friday The 13th, Jaws, and The Exorcist.

To see the article, go here.

Alternate Japanese Capital Idea: "Life Imitating Art"?

Above, Tokyo's National Diet Building. It was located in Osaka in "Godzilla x Megaguirus" (2000). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This news article from Bloomberg BusinessWeek caught my attention:

Japan Lawmakers Propose Alternate Capital Site In Case of Quake

Oct. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Japan's government should turn Osaka's old airport into a site to handle administrative functions and economic activities in the event an earthquake or other disaster knocks out Tokyo, a group of lawmakers said.

Why did this catch my attention?

Eleven years ago, Toho Co., Ltd. released Godzilla x Megaguirus in which (in the story scenario) Godzilla, in 1954, totally destroys Tokyo. This forces the government to relocate to...get this, Osaka!

Above, yours truly with a Godzilla filming suit used in "Godzilla x Megaguirus." Photo by Richard Pusateri.

There's a shot of the National Diet Building with Osaka Castle in the movie. This, I heard, amused Japanese audiences.

It appears that the lawmakers' plan could very well be a case of "life imitating art." Perhaps these lawmakers screened Godzilla x Megaguirus and that's where they got their idea?

To read the full article, go here.