This is a facility where visitors can learn about and experience the history of entertainment through the many products of Nintendo, a company that has transcended borders and generations. On the first floor, visitors can experience nostalgic games that have been reborn with the latest technology using coins in a hands-on exhibit, and on the second floor, various toys and game consoles that Nintendo has produced since its founding are on display, allowing visitors to relive the history of amusements. In addition, check out the workshop where you can make Hanafuda (Japanese playing cards), the origins of Nintendo, and the café where you can order an original hamburger.

The Nintendo Museum in Kokura, Uji is accessible by train. From Kyoto Station, take the Kintetsu Kyoto Line to the nearest Kokura Station, which takes about 20 minutes! From Osaka Station, first take the JR line to Kyoto Station. From Osaka Station, take the JR line to Kyoto Station, then transfer to the Kintetsu Kyoto Line to Kokura Station. It is a leisurely 5-minute walk from Kokura Station. There are no parking lots or bicycle parking lots, so please use public transportation.

First, you will pass through the security gate with the QR ticket you reserved in advance and receive an entrance pass. You will be excited to see the entrance pass with an illustration of Mario and your name printed on it!
Each person is given 10 coins on their admission card, which can be used at the hands-on exhibits on the first floor. I can't stop worrying and getting excited about which exhibit to use them for.

What immediately caught my eye as soon as I passed the gate were the clay pipes, Hatena blocks, and Super Mushrooms, all familiar to Mario fans. It is a perfect photo spot where you cannot help but take pictures.

Upon entering the building, visitors are greeted by Kinopio and his friends.

Nearby, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto's illustrated autograph is also on display.

As you proceed through the information and arrive at the entrance gate, Nintendo characters appear all over the walls! It's hard to enter the museum because I'm so curious about all of them (laughs).

At the top of the fantastic escalator is an exhibition area displaying almost all video game software released by Nintendo in Japan since the introduction of the Family Computer in 1983, as well as other spectacular products from the past.
I miss the old days! and "I miss it! Some were immersed in memories of finding games they were crazy about when they were children, while others relived the times they spent with family and friends. Some even had bitter memories of repeated fights between siblings over games...lol.

Although the exhibits are divided by game console and theme, there is no sequential order and no detailed explanations are provided. This makes it possible for visitors to take their time to reflect on their own memories and experiences, and fills them with nostalgic feelings.
It is interesting to trace back the old toys of Nintendo, which was founded in the Meiji era and started with Hanafuda (Japanese playing cards), to see how they reflect the historical background and culture of the times. It is a fun way to decipher the history of Japan through its toys and game consoles.

The first floor is a zone where visitors can enjoy hands-on exhibits using the 10 coins granted with their admission card.
There are a total of 8 exhibits to experience, ranging from 1 coin to 4 coins, and the number of coins required varies depending on the experience. You can play various games one at a time, or you can enjoy the one you are interested in the most. Additional coins cannot be purchased, so plan accordingly!

Located in the center of the 1st floor experience area, the Shigure Den SP stands out from the crowd. Using a special smartphone, visitors can search for the last phrase of a tanka poem on the floor vision screen.

When I find a tag, I rush to take a quick shot with my smartphone's camera. The quicker I can take a picture, the more points I can get, so I get really into it (laughs).

⚫︎ required coins / 2 coins

Mario's world unfolds on a giant screen in front of you. You can choose between a zapper, which is easy to fire in rapid succession, and a superscope, which is easy to aim at enemies such as Clibo and Sawtooth Mushrooms. This time, we chose the cool-looking zapper. The realistic feeling of being in the game world is unbearable!

⚫︎ required coins / 4 coins

The "Ultra Machine" is an indoor pitching machine released in 1968. The six rooms with different interiors are said to have been designed to resemble homes at the time of its release. The player hits back fastballs, curves, and other pitches one after another with a bat.

The ball count goes up when you hit a specific piece of furniture. Its location is a secret, so you have to actually go there and discover it. You can enjoy the immorality and exhilaration of hitting the ball inside the house!

⚫︎ required coins / 2 coins

A game using the "Ultra Hand," a toy released in the Showa period. The Ultra Hand, which extends when the handle is closed, is used to grab small and large balls flowing down the lane and into the clay pipe.

It looks simple, but when you actually use it, it is surprisingly difficult and a struggle.... When the ball enters the clay pipe, a firework goes off at the end, and the contents of the firework changes depending on the difficulty level of the ball you grab. It is a wonderful fusion of analog toys and the latest technology...as one would expect!

⚫︎ required coins / 1 coin

The controllers of Nintendo's previous game consoles, such as the NES, NINTENDO 64, and Wii, have been transformed into giant controllers, making you feel like a dwarf! It's as if you've become a dwarf, and playing games in pairs is as fresh as a new game, allowing you to experience the fun of playing together. It's a thrilling experience to watch others play together.

⚫︎ required coins / 2 coins per person

Other features include Love Tester SP, where two people hold hands and try various tests to raise their love level, Game & Watch SP, where you control the game using your shadow on a giant screen, and NES, Super NES, and NINTENDO 64 software with controllers for each game console. You can enjoy NINTENDO CLASSIC.

Tired of playing, I took a lunch break at HATENA BURGER, which has the atmosphere of an American diner.

You can choose from a wide variety of buns, main ingredients, toppings, and sauces to create your own customized hamburger. There are more than 270,000 possible combinations! There are also many Kyoto-style toppings such as Kujo green onions, Manganji togarashi (red pepper), and shibazuke (a type of pickled radish). If you are in doubt, don't worry, there is also a standard hamburger menu.

Trivia: The burgers range from a thoroughly Japanese style burger featuring grilled Spanish mackerel and oyakodon, to a vegetable burger consisting of only vegetables with a large mushroom as the centerpiece!

The last thing you want to do is visit the museum store. Welcome to the Bonus Stage! and the cheerful shouts of the store clerks will lift your spirits even higher.

Here, you will find not only official goods themed on the world of [Nintendo] games and characters, but also quite a variety of limited-edition items that can only be purchased at the [Nintendo Museum]!

Affordable items such as T-shirts, cups, eco-bags, towels, and snacks are perfect for yourself or as souvenirs for friends and family. A large cushion shaped like a video game controller makes a big impact! Before you know it, you'll have a basket full of souvenirs...

Trivia: Products with the "Nintendo MUSEUM" logo on the package are the exclusive products of the [Nintendo Museum]. There are no online sales, so this is the only store where you can purchase these items!

I visited this time thinking that this facility is mainly for people who know a lot about games. Actually, I was a little worried, but even those who are not familiar with games were able to fully enjoy the event!
The exhibition area on the second floor is sure to be a great place to visit with people of any age to see nostalgic software and game consoles. The contents were so extensive that fans could spend an entire day there.

In the experience space on the first floor, there are many games that can be enjoyed by everyone from adults to children, with varying degrees of difficulty. Even the games that look simple are so deep that you will lose track of time and get hooked! With a café and a selection of souvenirs, this was a highly satisfying outing spot that could be enjoyed from morning to night!

＜From the time you reserve your ticket to the time you come to the museum
Tickets must be reserved in advance and are currently sold by lottery.

(1) Apply for the lottery (Applications are accepted 3 months prior to the visit to the museum)
note (supplementary information) symbolNintendo Account (free to create)is required
(2) Confirm the results of the lottery (in the afternoon of the 1st of the month following the month of application)
(3) Pay for the winning ticket (announcement of winning results - 7th of each month)
(4) Issue "QR Ticket" (from 2:00 p.m. on the day before the visit)
Ticket PageClick on "Confirm Ticket" and then "Issue QR Ticket" to issue a ticket.
(5) Visiting the museum
QR ticket and ID (My number card / driver's license (including driving history certificate) / passport / residence card, etc. / disability certificate or Milairo ID) are required to enter the museum.
Pass through the baggage check and receive an entrance pass.

Reservations areherefrom

<Rates
Adults 3300 yen / Junior high and high school students 2200 yen / Elementary school students 1100 yen / Preschool children free
<Paid experience
Let's make Hanafuda (Japanese playing cards)" 2,000 yen (takes about 60 minutes)
Let's play Hanafuda (Japanese playing cards)" 500 yen per person (about 30 minutes)