We visited the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, Japan. And you should too

Just a few weeks ago, we visited the historically first (and likely only) Nintendo museum in Kyoto, Japan. It's now open to the public, so accept our invitation and join us on a journey through time to explore Nintendo's history in an interactive and entertaining way.

The year is 1889, and we find ourselves in central Japan on the island of Honshu. This is where a company that would become one of the world's largest technology firms a century later was born. However, this story began with something completely different - Hanafuda cards. This is actually the starting point of your museum journey, as in the building adjacent to the museum itself, you'll find a special floor dedicated to Hanafuda cards. Here, you can create your own version of these cards and, more importantly, play a game. No previous experience is needed; everything is designed so that complete beginners can enjoy it.

Now to the museum itself! Nintendo has owned the building where the museum was established for many decades and used it for various purposes. Now it houses a museum offering a historical perspective on this company. Upon entering the grounds, you're greeted by a small park where you'll find the first easter eggs (the museum is full of them, don't worry, we won't reveal them all – we recommend looking around everywhere, it will surely bring a smile to your face). The main building itself has two floors, and the tour doesn't begin (somewhat surprisingly) on the ground floor. Before you reach the first floor, you can view a wall featuring dozens of characters that have been part of Nintendo's world for decades. Can you recognize them all?

The first part of the tour is "historical," focusing on what followed after the aforementioned Hanafuda cards. This includes both the distribution of Western products after World War II and the transition to the gaming business afterward. You'll find an enormous space literally filled with Nintendo's history. All fans will reminisce about the era when they started with Nintendo, whether it was Nintendo 64, Wii, or the current Switch. And note, don't expect exhaustive text panels here; history is absorbed through the actual products Nintendo has released in the past. Through their playfulness and uniqueness, qualities that Nintendo products have prided themselves on for decades...

The ground floor is full of action! Here you'll find an interactive floor where you can try various devices from Nintendo's history. You'll encounter the Ultra Hand from the 60s, huge Nintendo controllers to play absolute classics like Donkey Kong or Mario, and modern variations of Hanafuda card games. There's plenty of fun here, and we won't reveal all the "stations." It will be best to discover them yourself and experience this interactive part with someone else.

The conclusion of your visit will likely include a stop at the local store, where you'll find limited edition Nintendo merchandise, most of which is tied to individual generations of Nintendo consoles. If you're a Nintendo fan, there's a real risk you'll leave with a museum cap, Switch t-shirt, N64 mug, Game Boy badge, and huge Wii Remote...

Finally, we wish you a happy journey to Japan and a pleasant visit to the Nintendo museum. We believe this museum will capture your heart and you'll enjoy your visit.

For more information about tickets and opening hours, visit the official Nintendo museum website: https://museum.nintendo.com/en/index.html