Nintendo is opening a museum later this year, and it will be an ode to its gaming history and nostalgia

The museum features Nintendo’s entire history, including its role as a toy company producing Hanafuda cards and other entertainment properties.

The Nintendo Museum will open in Kyoto, Japan, on October 2, 2024. (Image credit: Nintendo)

If you remember playing Tetris on a Game Boy or Super Mario Bros. 3 on an NES, there’s a good chance that the Nintendo Museum exhibits your favourite game and console. However, you will need to travel all the way to Kyoto, Japan, to relive your childhood memories. Nintendo announced on Tuesday that it will be opening a museum in Japan on October 2, hoping that the company’s 135-year history will be brought to life and provide a backdrop to how it created its beloved game franchises over the years.

Nintendo has recreated and installed giant controllers to play classic Nintendo games from the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, and Wii eras. (Image credit: Nintendo)

Ahead of the opening, Nintendo’s legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto gave a tour of the museum, showing what to expect from the collection filled with history and nostalgia. The 10-minute tour begins on the second floor of the museum, where several products released since its founding in 1889 will be on display. This area will showcase non-video gaming products from before Nintendo transitioned to an entertainment company, including copy machines, baby strollers, RC cars, and pitching machines.

The museum will be dedicated specifically to video games and consoles, with displays for the Famicom, Wii, Game Boy, DS, Nintendo Switch, and other consoles. There will be a dedicated Famicom display where viewers can find regional versions of the console, alongside game boxes and cartridges from Japan, America, and Europe—many of which feature different box art and sizes. Later in the tour, Miyamoto shows a batting cage where Nintendo products can be hit with ping pong balls to react to your swing. There’s also a virtual shooting gallery dedicated to the NES Zapper and SNES Super Scope.

There’s an interactive experience where visitors can design their own Hanafuda cards. (Image credit: Nintendo)

The Nintendo Museum has been built on the site of the factory where Nintendo originally made its Hanafuda cards and which was later used for quality checks during the Famicom era. That building has a storied history and is close to the company’s origins.

The museum will also feature a shop where you can purchase merchandise, a cafe, and eight interactive experiences.

The Nintendo Museum’s website is now open, and if you are interested in visiting this nostalgia trip through video games, you can reserve entry to the museum right now if you are lucky enough to get an early spot. Be prepared to pay 3,300 yen (around Rs 1,886) for adults, with special rates available for teens, children, and preschoolers.

You can see Nintendo’s video of the Museum Direct down below.

Anuj Bhatia

Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle. Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include: Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech. Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups. Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech. Authoritativeness & Trust Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape. Find all stories by Anuj Bhatia here. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. ... Read More

Tags:
Nintendo