The Nintendo Museum’s opening date has finally been announced and Nintendo fans worldwide are getting hyped.
And with good reason: This secretive project was kept firmly under wraps after it was first announced in June 2021. Construction finally got underway in 2023, and after a delay, the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto announced its opening date as October 2, 2024. Here is everything we know so far — including how to get tickets. 3, 2, 1, go!
What will the Nintendo Museum be like?
The Nintendo Museum will essentially be an interactive playground, with each visitor getting 10 digital coins to play with. Spend them on giant controllers, old consoles (think Nintendo 64), and classic games. The museum will also feature products and moments from Nintendo’s history — including behind-the-scenes material. Get stuck in at the workshops, where you can create Japanese playing cards for an extra price.
Remember to use your coins wisely — you’ll only get 10 on entry, and that won’t cover all experiences. You also can’t pay for more.
How to get tickets to the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto
As expected, getting tickets to the Nintendo Museum is not that easy. You’ll need to have a Nintendo account and tickets aren’t guaranteed — you’ll need to enter a lottery.
How much are the tickets to the Nintendo Museum?
Here are the ticket prices:
- Adults: ¥3,300
- Ages 12 to 17: ¥2,200
- Ages 6 to 11: ¥1,100
- Ages 5 and under: Free
How to enter the lottery for the Nintendo Museum
- Pick your preferred dates three months in advance — you can choose up to three dates/times.
- Sign in to your Nintendo Account (this can be different from the name you put on your tickets).
- Fill out the full names and information, including phone numbers, of the people visiting — note that you may need to show ID at the museum.
- You will receive an email with your drawing date — this is on the first of the month after you apply (for example, if you applied on August 29, you’ll find out if you got your tickets on September 1).
- If you win, you can pay for your tickets by credit card. Be sure to pay within the given time frame. You’ll also need to verify your identiy using the phone number you provided.
- Download your QR code the day before your visit, from 2 p.m.
- If you lose …
You may still have a chance to buy tickets if you don’t get your desired date and time. If there are cancellations, then tickets for dates up to two months in advance may appear on the website. These you can buy straight away, no need for a lottery — just keep checking.
How to get to the Nintendo Museum
The Nintendo Museum is at the old Nintendo Uji Ogura Plant in Uji City, Kyoto. In the past, Nintendo used this factory to make trading cards, as well as repair toys and consoles, so it’s a suitable venue.
The museum is a 5-minute walk from Ogura Station (East Exit) and a 22-minute walk from Uji Station (North Exit). You can get to Ogura Station in 30 minutes from Kyoto Station using the Kintetsu Railway Kyoto Line. If coming straight from the airport, you’ll first have to get to Kyoto Station.
Uji is part of the wider Kyoto area and is famous for matcha green tea production. It’s a great day trip from Kyoto or even Osaka.
Also read: 10 Unforgettable Day Trips from Osaka.
Nintendo Museum FAQs
Your questions about the new Nintendo Museum, answered.
When will the Nintendo Museum open in Japan?
The Nintendo Museum will open on October 2, 2024. A ticket lottery is already available.
What are the opening times for the Nintendo Museum?
The Nintendo Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Tuesday. If the Tuesday is a holiday, it will close on the Wednesday instead. It will also be closed from December 30 to January 3 for the New Year’s holidays.
Will the Nintendo Museum have anything to eat?
There will be a café at the Nintendo Museum called Hatena Burger. Apart from the stained-glass window of Zelda and Link, the main draw is the ability to customize your own hamburger. More than 270,000 combinations are possible. Vegetarian, but not vegan, options are also available. Note that the café is only accessible to museum ticket holders.
Will there be a shop at the Nintendo Museum?
There will be official merchandise for sale. The Nintendo Museum store is only available to ticket holders and includes products exclusive to the store.
Is the Nintendo Museum accessible?
The museum itself has elevators and four accessible toilets. A few interactive exhibits are not wheelchair-friendly, however.
The route from the East Exit of Ogura Station to the museum has stairs, so it’s recommended you take the alternative route from the West Exit shown on the website.
Other Nintendo attractions in Japan
There are lots of other ways to get your Nintendo fix.
If you’re in Osaka, there’s Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan. And definitely don’t miss the Nintendo Stores — you can find them in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
Of course, there’s also the infamous “Mario Kart” go-kart tours, available both in Tokyo and Osaka. While the street karts are not at all an official Nintendo activity, they do allow you to zoom through the streets in costume, which is fun.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Last updated in August, 2024, by Alexandra Ziminski.
