Nintendo Museum in Kyoto: A Luminous Love Letter to a Legendary Legacy

When Nintendo announced that they were dropping a Nintendo Direct on my birthday focusing on the upcoming opening of the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, I was overjoyed, but had no idea what to expect. Between thrift shopping with my family, playing the Tetris board game with my son, eating homemade goat milk cheesecake, hearing that The Acolyte was mercifully canceled, and watching Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits (1981), I had an amazing birthday, and didn’t think my day could get any better. And then I saw the Nintendo Direct which aired on Aug 20, 2024.

Immediately, Shigeru Miyamoto was shown at the front lobby. After a brief introduction, the footage cuts to show him in the midst of a massive collection of games and systems. He introduced the circular room as just one portion of the second floor of what was sure to be a massive museum. Giant controllers hung over the displays so that you can see each section from a distance, and as far as box art goes, all three regions of each release can be seen (US, Japan, Europe), so you can easily compare differences between box art, titles, and ratings. There are also dedicated displays for things like the evolution of Mario games and the “?” block over time. Nintendo Power and Rewards Club members know that sending out posters outlining the evolution of their franchises has been one of the fun ways Nintendo likes to frame their ever-changing legacy.

Not only were there a collection of games and systems behind glass cabinets, with screens and targeted speakers that play sound from each game if you are standing right below the screen, but there’s even a section for toys, cards, and other products Nintendo sold before becoming the gaming behemoth we know them as today. I had no idea they made strollers, for instance.

Mr. Miyamoto, whom I hope has a dedicated wing in the museum (along with other Nintendo legends), then goes on to showcase the first floor, which features a bevy of fun and creative interactive exhibits. Miyamoto promised that we would see eight of them, but that he’d showcase just three of them, plus a bonus one - a massive floor screen in the lobby which hosts an interactive card game - the traditional Japanese game of Hyakunin Isshu, for which Nintendo used to make cards. Nintendo employees demonstrate that by standing on the floor and moving from card to card, they can play the game via a special app. The app can also help tourists understand the game.

Next up, Mr. Miyamoto showcased a room for a household toy Nintendo manufactured called the Ultra Machine. It basically shoots out ping-pong balls that you can whack with a bat, for indoor baseball practice. There are various batting cages set up like Japanese living rooms, and hitting different objects will cause various fun effects. Each of the batting cages is unique, making this doubly special.

Another cool attraction is a light-gun shooting gallery. I was not aware of this, but Nintendo once converted bowling alleys into light-gun clay shooting galleries. This was back in their light-gun days. This fun game lets you take up either a Zapper or a Super Scope and go to town on bunches of Bowser’s minions. Be careful not to hit Mario or Peach, though! Mr. Miyamoto got to show off his shooting skills, as he easily aced the challenge, while some of the museum employees were missing their shots. He don’t miss.

Finally, we came to the most incredible display - a room filled with functional oversized Nintendo controllers, and challenges to tackle with them. These are definitely designed for two or more players to work together, and the results are hilarious. Mr. Miyamoto demonstrated a game of Super Mario Bros. alongside a young museum employee, but the real highlight was seeing a line of massive Wii Remotes, each set to a different motion-controlled game (or mini-game). I was blown away.

Other sections, such as a dining area with customizable burgers, and a gift shop, were all teased out with photos. This sounds like a fantastic experience for any Nintendo fan, one worthy of a trip abroad, especially when paired with a trip to Universal Studios Japan and Super Nintendo World.

This museum is easily a must-visit for me, but it will probably be a few years before I can make the journey there. I need to visit my family and friends in the Philippines first! But after my wife and I met on a serendipitous trip to Japan, I have always vowed to return there with my kids, so I can show them the sights and sounds of the country that has brought so much inspiration to me through its media. Nintendo’s been working on this for many years now, so I’m very excited to see it finally take root and can’t wait to see what other surprises await.

The Nintendo Museum in Kyoto will be open to the public on October 2nd, 2024.

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