Source: Nintendo

In a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage, ancient temples, and traditional tea houses, a new landmark is poised to draw visitors from around the world: the Nintendo Museum. Located in Uji City, Kyoto, the birthplace of the iconic gaming company, Nintendo’s highly anticipated first museum is slated to open its doors on 2 October 2024.

The museum stands on the site of the former Uji Ogura Plant, where Nintendo produced playing cards and other products before its transformation into a video game giant. This location holds historical significance as it marks the company’s early ventures and its evolution into a global entertainment powerhouse.

Source: Nintendo

The museum’s mission is to showcase the history of Nintendo's products, from its humble beginnings in 1889 as a playing card company to its current status as a leader in the video game industry. The exhibits are meticulously curated to offer a comprehensive look at the company’s journey through the decades, highlighting key moments, beloved characters, and groundbreaking games that have left an indelible mark on generations of players.

Interactive Exhibits

At the Nintendo Museum, you are greeted by a blend of nostalgia and innovation. The museum's layout is designed to take you on a chronological journey, starting with early playing cards and board games, and then moving through the evolution of Nintendo's consoles.

Your entry ticket to the museum comes with 10 digital coins, which you can use to participate in various activities. According to Nintendo Museum’s official website, the number of coins required varies with each activity and it is not possible to experience all the interactive exhibits with 10 coins. There is also no way to purchase extra coins at the moment.

Source: Nintendo

One of the museum's highlights is Big Controller — the giant Famicom (the Japanese version of the NES) and Wii controllers, which can be used to play actual Nintendo games! But since they are gigantic, you’re supposed to play in teams with different people in charge of different buttons.

Source: Nintendo

Other interactive exhibits include Zapper & Scope SP, where you help Mario shoot down his enemies like Goomba and Boo; Ultra Hand SP, where you grab and drop balls into the pipes; Love Tester SP, where you can test your love level with your other half; and more.

A Must-Visit For Gamers And Tourists

The opening of the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto is not just a significant event for gamers but also for the city itself. The museum’s proximity to other cultural landmarks in Kyoto makes it an ideal stop for both dedicated fans and those simply curious about the history of one of Japan’s most successful companies. The next time you’re visiting Kyoto, remember to add Nintendo Museum to your itinerary! It will also make a fun and exciting day trip for both children and adults.

Source: Nintendo

In addition to the exhibits, the museum offers a gift shop filled with Nintendo game worlds and characters merchandise and museum-exclusive merchandise, making it the perfect place for you to pick up unique souvenirs. An on-site café also serves Hatena (question mark in Japanese) Burger, where you can customise your own burger. Both the shop and the cafe are located inside the museum and are open to ticket holders only.

How To Get Your Tickets

Tickets are available through the lottery three months in advance, so if you’re planning to visit in April, you’ll have to apply for the tickets in January. The results will be out on the first day of the following month (February in this case) and if you’ve won the eligibility, you can purchase your tickets. Otherwise, you can also try snatching the leftover tickets that will go on sale from the middle of the month (February), for use two months later (April).

Source: Nintendo

Adult tickets are priced at ¥3,300 (about S$30), while the tickets for youths aged 12 to 17 are priced at ¥2,200 (about S$20). Tickets for children aged 6 to 11 are priced at ¥1,100 (about S$10) and those aged 5 and below can enter for free.

Check out the Nintendo Museum Direct as Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Mario and The Legend Of Zelda, takes you on a sneak-peek tour of the museum.

Nintendo Museum
Location: 56 Kaguraden, Ogura-cho, Uji-shi, Kyoto 611-0042
Access: No parking spaces, please take the public transport
Ticket: From ¥1,100
Website

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