() –– Many of us of a certain age can still remember the first time we picked up a Nintendo Entertainment System controller and quickly immersed ourselves in the colorful worlds of Super Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong.
If these games played a big role in your childhood, the long-awaited new Nintendo Museum of Japan is a must-see.
Open to the public on October 2, the interactive space is located in the video game company’s former factory complex in Uji, about an hour south of the city of Kyoto.
Distributed in three main buildings, the Nintendo Museum guides visitors through the company’s 135-year history with an exhaustive exhibit that includes rare consoles and prototypes, interactive games, experiences and even a themed burger restaurant.
While museum visitors won’t be able to jump and hit “question blocks” like Mario Bros (they can already do that anyway at the Super Nintendo World theme park in nearby Osaka), they will have access to a wealth of information that offers insights. about the mind of Nintendo genius Shigeru Miyamoto, also known as the father of Super Mario.
The giant video game company was founded in 1889 as a manufacturer of playing cards that produced hanafuda, which means “flower playing cards” in Spanish. A section of the museum called “Craft and Play” is dedicated to these humble beginnings and features a hanafuda room where visitors learn to play the traditional card game with the help of technology and can participate in a workshop to create their own. flower cards
However, the main attraction of the museum is its “Discover” area, a huge hall that displays almost every product released by the company, including rare limited-edition devices and non-working prototypes.
Another highlight of the Discover building is the collection of eight special interactive games, each representing an iconic creation in the company’s gaming history.
Meanwhile, “Big Controller” allows visitors to collaborate and play classic Nintendo games on, as the name suggests, oversized controllers designed to look like the originals on consoles like the Wii and Famicom.
Among the mini-games offered are a laser shooter game called “Zapper & Scope,” which is a nod to the company’s light gun shooting system developed in 1973, and “Love Tester,” first released in 1969.
Museum visitors receive 10 digital coins that they can use to play, but be careful: it is not possible to purchase additional coins, so players will have to strategize and choose wisely.
Despite its discreet gray facade, the museum is full of fun details that are uniquely Nintendo, from the multiple kinopio (toads) that sing when their heads are touched to the lockers that look like Gameboy cassettes.
The museum’s cafe, Hatena Burger, features Nintendo-themed decor, while the shop sells souvenirs like oversized controller pillows, keychains, and hanafuda.
Ready to visit the place? This is where things get complicated. You can’t just show up at the door and buy a ticket.
Visitors must access the museum’s website and register for a drawing at least three months in advance. This means travelers can enter a drawing for tickets to visit the museum starting in January and can select up to three preferred dates and times.
Winners are announced two months before the scheduled visit date and tickets must be purchased immediately.
Those who cannot register in advance can also try their luck at the museum website calendar and search for entries that have been canceled or added later.
Tickets cost 3,300 yen (US$23) per adult and 2,200 yen (US$15) for children. Some parts of the exhibition have an additional cost.
Add Comment