An exciting new attraction for video game enthusiasts now calls Kyoto home: the Nintendo Museum. Situated in the Uji district, this museum is dedicated to showcasing the rich history of one of Japan’s most iconic gaming companies.
Opening from October 2024, the Nintendo Museum provides fans with a glimpse into the evolution of Nintendo, from its early days as a playing card company to its groundbreaking innovations in the gaming world.
Visitors can explore interactive exhibits, rare memorabilia, and iconic characters that have shaped generations. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the company or new to Nintendo, the museum offers a unique experience to captivate visitors of all ages.
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What it’s like
The museum is housed inside the old Nintendo Uji Ogura Plant in Kyoto, a place where the company first started out manufacturing trading cards, and repairing toys and consoles. So it’s really bringing Nintendo back to its roots.
Inside, the museum is like one big interactive playground that unfolds across 3 buildings and 2 floors.
Exhibition building 1 is where the main action is. On the 2nd floor is a vast display of all the Nintendo products the company has released to date, from the original Game Boy to the SNES, to the Switch, alongside a behind-the-scenes timeline of the history.
The first floor, on the other hand, is where you get to play with all the various consoles enhanced with modern technology on giant screens, as well as experience a range of other interactive games.
On entering the museum, each visitor gets granted 10 digital coins which can be used on these interactive exhibits. These are not rechargeable and don’t cover every exhibit, so be careful how you use them!
The museum also features a café where you can design your own hamburger, and an on-site merchandise store offering a range of exclusive Nintendo goodies.
Unique Hanafuda workshop
Nintendo also invites visitors to ‘experience the beginning’ in a workshop where you can make your own Hanafuda playing cards, the foundation of the company.
The workshop consists of 2 parts:
- Craft Room: Let’s Make Hanafuda – Using a specially made kit, you select your favorite pattern from one of the 12 months and proceed to color, fold, and paste together your own set of 2 Hanafuda cards that you can take home. Lasts around 60 minutes, and costs 2,000 yen per person.
- Play Room: Try Playing Hanafuda – Designed for groups of 2, you can enjoy a game based on “hana-awase,” one of the most popular versions of Hanafuda. The experience uses image recognition and projection technology, making it easy even for beginners to follow along. Lasts approximately 30 minutes, costs 500 yen per person.
Note: This unique experience requires a reservation on the day of your visit and involves the additional fees mentioned above.
Nintendo Museum opening times and tickets
The museum is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily, except for Tuesdays. If Tuesday falls on a holiday, the museum will close on Wednesday instead. Additionally, it will remain closed from December 30 to January 3 for the New Year holidays.
Ticket prices are as follows:
- Adults – 3,300 yen
- Aged 12 to 17 – 2,200 yen
- Aged 6 to 11 – 1,100 yen
- Aged 5 and under – Free
However, there’s a catch. To get tickets, you need to have a Nintendo account, and enter into a lottery system.
How the lottery system works
To take part in the ticket draw, go to the museum’s ticketing website and follow these steps:
- Select your preferred visit dates up to 3 months ahead, with the option to choose up to three different dates and times
- Log in using your Nintendo Account (it doesn’t need to match the name on your tickets)
- Provide the full names, phone numbers, and other details of all visitors. You may be required to show ID at the museum
- An email will notify you of the drawing results on the first day of the month following your application (e.g., if you apply on October 25, you’ll find out on November 1)
- If you win, you can pay for your tickets by credit card. Remember to pay within the specified time frame and verify your identity using the phone number you provided.
- Your QR code will be available for download starting at 2 p.m. the day before your visit
If you don’t win the lottery, check the website for possible ticket cancellations. Tickets for dates up to 2 months in advance may become available for direct purchase, no lottery required.
How to get there
The Nintendo Museum located in Uji, Kyoto. You can easily reach it by train using your Japan Rail Pass:
- The closest station is the JR Ogura Station, just a 8-minute walk from the museum
- You can use your JR Pass to travel to Ogura station on the JR Nara Line from Kyoto Station (20 minutes), or from Nara (45 minutes)
- You can also use Regional Passes to travel on the Nara Line
- If coming from Osaka or Kansai International Airport, you can travel on the Haruka Express using your JR Pass to first get to Kyoto Station.
Local buses from Kyoto Station and Uji Station also offer easy access to the museum.
Note that using public transportation to get to the museum is highly encouraged due to limited parking space.
Other Nintendo attractions in Japan
If you’re a Nintendo superfan and want to make the most of your trip in the company’s home country, don’t forget to also check out Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios in Osaka!
If that doesn’t satisfy your inner gaming fanboy, you may also want to take a trip on the unique Pokémon with You train in the Tohoku Region!