Merlin to open permanent Madame Tussauds in Tokyo

Merlin Entertainments has confirmed that it will open a permanent Madame Tussauds at Decks Tokyo Beach Mall in the Japanese capital in April 2013.

The attraction will operate alongside the company's new Legoland Discovery Centre which opens later this year. The decision to open a permanent Madame Tussauds follows the success of a temporary waxwork attraction at the same location.

Merlin's temporary Madame Tussauds closed last week after three months, breaking records both for visitor numbers and positive response, and making the case for a permanent exhibition overwhelming. Madame Tussauds Tokyo will be one of the biggest opened by the brand and the fourth Madame Tussauds to open in the region - alongside the highly successful Hong Kong, Shanghai and Bangkok attractions.

Merlin's Divisional Director of Midway Developments Russell Barnes, explains "our daily customer feedback survey has shown that visitors to the Tokyo attraction, both local and tourists, have obviously loved the experience, and been fascinated by the wax figures of their heroes.

"The new exhibition will take this experience to another level - not just with three or four times as many figures, but with no ropes and barriers, and really immersive sets, visitors will have no problem believing that they really are standing beside, or even 'interacting' with their heroes."

Decks Tokyo Beach General Manager Taro Saito stated "the temporary attraction drove a huge number of visitors to the mall showing that the combination of high quality retail and leisure is exactly what consumers are looking for."

Merlin is also looking to open a fifth Madame Tussauds in South Korea, and is close to finalising a suitable site; underlining the company's commitment to fast tracking its business in the dynamic Asia Pacific region.

Madame Tussauds Tokyo will feature more than 60 of the most popular Japanese and international celebrities from the world of sport, film and television - all in exciting interactive themed areas so that visitors will really be able to get 'up close' with their heroes.

Like all the Madame Tussauds around the world, Madame Tussauds' Tokyo will reflect the culture, people, history and colour of the City in which it is located.

For more information go to www.merlinentertainments.biz

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