[2024] From classic to hidden gems! Recommended Dates in Kyoto...
The Nintendo Museum] will open in Uji and Kokura, Kyoto on October 2, 2024 (Wednesday). Tickets for the new facility, which is attracting attention not only from Osaka, Kyoto and other Kinki areas but also from overseas, are currently being sold by lottery. The Leaf editorial department has infiltrated such a hot spot! Here is an early look at what kind of things you can enjoy, along with our impressions of the actual experience, including its contents and limited-edition goods! (PHOTO/Katsunori Hatanaka, TEXT/Eiko Itakura, EDIT/Miki Tamura)
国境や世代を越えて親しまれる[任天堂(Nintendo)]の数々の商品を通し、娯楽の歴史を知り体験する施設。宇治・小倉の旧[任天堂 宇治小倉工場]跡地に立つ。1Fの体験展示ではコインを使い、最新の技術で生まれ変わった懐かしの遊びが体験可能。2Fでは[任天堂]が創業以来手掛けて来たさまざまな玩具・ゲーム機を展示しており、娯楽の追体験も。そのほか[任天堂]の原点である花札を制作できるワークショップやオリジナルハンバーガーをオーダーできるカフェも要チェック。
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, pass through the security gate with the QR ticket you reserved in advance and receive an entrance pass. The entrance pass with an illustration of Mario and your name printed on it will get you excited!
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, you will be greeted by Pinocchio and his friends. Proceeding through the information desk, when you arrive at the entrance gate, Nintendo characters appear all over the wall! 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
Other games 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 own 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. There are about 4 to 5 games that can be played for 10 coins. With a café and a selection of souvenirs, this was a highly satisfying outing spot that could be enjoyed from morning till night!
<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)
<Ticket Reservations
Tickets are being sold in two ways: by lottery and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reservations arehere
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