Nintendo Museum: What to expect and how to get tickets

Calling all Nintendo fans! The long awaited Nintendo Museum in Uji is finally opening on October 2, 2024! Nintendo has long been a cornerstone of the gaming industry, captivating audiences of all ages with beloved franchises like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon. As of 2024, fans have an exciting new reason to celebrate: the opening of the Nintendo Museum in Uji, a unique institution that showcases the history, evolution, and impact of the global gaming giant.

Where is the Nintendo Museum located?

The Nintendo Museum is located in Uji, a city on the outskirts of Kyoto. Its close proximity to Kyoto makes it a good choice for day trips from Osaka and/or Kyoto.

And yes! This means that for Nintendo fans who probably already have a visit to the Super Nintendo World in USJ on your Osaka itinerary, you now have another attraction you might want to add to your itinerary.

Specifically, the Nintendo Museum will be located at 56 Kaguraden, Ogura-cho, Uji-shi, a short 5 minutes walk away from Ogura Station. Alternatively, it is a 22 minutes walk away from Uji station, if you are planning to also visit Uji for the matcha experience.

Google maps works perfectly in Japan, so you can use Google maps to help you navigate and make your way to the museum.

What you can expect at the Nintendo Museum?

Uji is a serene and picturesque city known for its historical significance, including temples, shrines, and its famous tea production. The Nintendo Museum adds a modern twist to Uji's cultural landscape.

The Nintendo Museum is a treasure trove of interactive exhibits, rare artifacts, and exclusive content that chronicles the company's journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a gaming giant. Here's a glimpse of what you can expect:

1. Historical Exhibits

Visitors are taken on a nostalgic journey through Nintendo's history, starting from its founding in 1889. The museum offers a rich collection of historical documents, early product prototypes, and a wide variety of memorabilia, including the first Nintendo consoles, handheld devices, and even retro gaming merchandise.

2. Craft and Play

Nintendo started off by making Hanafuda Playing Cards. Visitors will get the chance to experience the beginning of Nintendo by getting the chance to make your own Hanafuda cards. For those who are unfamiliar with the game, this is also a good chance for you to get to learn the rules of the game as you play! A separate reservation and fee is required for those who want to experience this.

3. Interactive Exhibits

For those who want to experience the excitement of Nintendo's beloved games firsthand, the museum offers interactive areas where visitors can play iconic titles from past and present. Whether you're a fan of retro gaming or the latest Nintendo Switch hits, there's something for everyone. Your play ticket is pre-loaded with coins that can be used to experience the eight interactive exhibits; additional coins cannot be purchased so spend your coins wisely!

4. Exclusive Merchandise

No visit to the Nintendo Museum would be complete without a stop at the gift shop. Of course, you can expect find exclusive merchandise that is only available at the museum, including special edition items celebrating the company's legacy and fan-favorite characters.

How to get tickets to the Nintendo Museum?

Now, the most important question - how you can get tickets to the Nintendo Museum.

Currently, tickets are sold via lottery. For those who are unfamiliar, entry via lottery is actually a rather common way for ticketing and entry management in Japan, especially for locations that might be oversubscribed.

To take part in the lottery, you will need to create a Nintendo Account - a Nintendo Account can be created for free. Entries will be accepted three months prior to your visit on the ticketing website, and draws will be done on the first of the month following the application. You will be informed via email on the results of your application.

If you were lucky enough to get the ticket, you will have to make payment for your ticket. Payment has to be made by the 7th of the month that the results were announced. Your ticket will be lapsed if you do not make payment in time.

What if I don’t win the lottery for tickets?

If you don’t win the lottery for tickets, you can still look out for tickets that get released later. These tickets could be made available due to reasons such as cancellation. These tickets are first-come, first-served, so you may need to camp out on the site to look for any tickets that get released later!

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