While Nintendo Direct livestreams typically showcase the company’s upcoming games, the latest presentation shifted its focus to the world’s first Nintendo Museum. Hosted by company legend Shigeru Miyamoto himself, it gives a tour of the completed attraction in Kyoto, Japan, now due to open its doors on 2 October.
The Super Mario creator begins by sharing the history of the museum site, which previously housed the company’s original playing card factory and was later used for quality checks during the Famicom (Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES) era. A Mario-themed plaza with pipes, a question block, and more occupies the entrance, leading into a space reminiscent of a Japanese apartment in the 1970s.
Visitors can expect various interactive elements on the inside, including a giant Wii Remote, a digital card display, and upsized controllers. A total of eight areas can be found on the ground level, with the official website listing the following:
- Shigureden SP
- Explore Hyakunin Isshu poems using smart devices and the giant screen on the floor.
- Zapper & Scope SP
- Experience shooting using the Zapper and Super Scope in the world of Mario that spreads out on the giant screen in front of you.
- Ultra Machine SP
- A batting-cage experience inside a room. Hit the balls pitched by the Ultra Machine.
- Ultra Hand SP
- Use the Ultra Hand to grab the balls rolling down the lanes, and drop them into the pipes.
- Love Tester SP
- Two people join hands and work together on tests that measure their Love Level.
- Game & Watch SP
- Play Game & Watch games using your own shadow.
- Nintendo Classics
- Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo 64. Choose from over 80 games to play.
- Big Controller
- Controllers from past hardware generations made giant. Two people must work together to take on challenges in games released back in the day.
There’s a catch, though. A single ticket won’t grant access to all eight exhibitions, as the interactive exhibitions require digital coins to play — only 10 are granted upon entry, with no way to purchase additional ones when they run out. Meanwhile, the second floor serves as a gallery of products created and published by Nintendo, set up in eras and consoles from the NES days to now.
The Nintendo Museum also has a café that offers visitors the chance to make their own burger out of a possible 270,000 combinations, and a shop selling exclusive merchandise. Both spaces are only open to ticket holders, with a Hanafuda card-making experience available at an extra cost: 2,000 yen (US$14 / S$18) for the “Let’s Make Hanafuda!” workshop, and 500 yen (US$3.50 / S$4) for “Try Playing Hanafuda!”.
Tickets for October and November 2024 are currently available to apply for through a lottery system on the Nintendo Museum website, costing 3,300 yen (US$23 / S$30) each for adults. Balloting for later months will open when the time comes around.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
