As if we needed yet another reason to plan a holiday in Japan, Nintendo will soon be launching a brand-new museum in Kyoto!
Dedicated to showcasing its iconic video games and consoles, this multi-level Nintendo Museum will open its doors on 2 October this year, with tickets for October and November 2024 already up for grabs through a lottery system.
Here are some of the highlights that visitors can expect to see there:
Nintendo Galore
Photo from Nintendo
If you grew up playing Nintendo games, whether it's the ultra-popular Wii system or the OG Game Boy, the Nintendo Museum is going to hit you with a hearty serving of childhood nostalgia.
Photo from Nintendo
Delve into the history of the brand's innovations from Hanafuda to Nintendo Switch as you make your way through the many minimalist displays. There are also hardware and game systems from Japan, North America, Europe, and other regions on display!
Immersive Installations
Photo from Nintendo
No Nintendo-related establishment is complete without a ton of exciting fun-filled games, and this museum is no different. Unique play experiences like a digitally interactive floor with poems, arcade-style shooting games, a batting-cage, a love tester machine perfect for couples, Nintendo classics, and more await.
Photo from Nintendo
There's even a giant game controller that takes two people to operate — sounds like the ultimate test of co-operation indeed. This area is also perfect for families, especially those who have small children in tow (though it may become difficult to separate them from the games later!)
Craft Workshops
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If you're the artsy type, this is absolutely going to make your day. Visitors can sign up to join a Hanafuda-making workshop (2,000 yen), where they'll be taught how to design their very own set of four cards.
While this hour-long experience will cost extra, you'll get to take home the handmade cards. We bet you'll be hard-pressed to find a cooler souvenir anywhere else in Kyoto!
Photo from Nintendo
Want to start off with learning how to play the game of Hanafuda? Fret not, because there's also a workshop (500 yen) for that, and it's enhanced with projection technology to make picking up the rules extra simple.
Nintendo Museum Cafe-Restaurant
Photo from Nintendo
Fair warning: this is no regular museum cafe and restaurant. The Nintendo Museum's in-house eatery allows visitors to customise their order with so many ingredients, there are over 270,000 possible combinations! Yes, you read that right — it's a mix-and-match meal service like you've never seen before.
Photo from Nintendo
Custom order your very own hamburger by combining your preferred ingredients, and make sure to grab the special drinks and sides on the menu while you're at it.
Tickets to the Nintendo Museum are priced at 3,300 yen (~$30 SGD) each for adults, with more affordable prices available for children. To try your luck at getting your hands on a ticket, enter the museum's lottery draw here.
Nintendo Museum
Address: 56 Kaguraden, Ogura-cho, Uji-shi, Kyoto 611-0042 (5-minute walk from the East exit of Ogura Station (Kintetsu Railway Kyoto Line))
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