If your kids have ever waved a Joy-Con controller, built a Mario Kart track in your living room, or begged for “just one more level,” then visiting the new Nintendo Museum in Kyoto will probably be at the top of their Japan travel wishlist.
The Nintendo Museum offers both new and old fans of the company the opportunity to explore more than a century of its history. From playing cards to some of the first consoles to the newest Switch 2 games, this museum has everything die-hard video game fans will love.
But you’re on vacation, and the question is: before you buy tickets to the Nintendo museum, are your kids going to even enjoy it? It is a museum after all, not an arcade. We recently visited, and we’ve got the full review on whether the Nintendo Museum is family-friendly and if it’s worth adding to your family’s Japan itinerary.
What Is the Nintendo Museum?
The Nintendo Museum is a relatively new attraction in Kyoto, Japan. It sits in the area of Kyoto known as Uji, which is about 20 minutes from Kyoto Station by train. The museum actually sits on the site of the company’s old manufacturing plant.
Nintendo first announced plans for the museum back in 2021, and it officially opened its doors in October 2024. Tickets are sold via a lottery system through the website for a month in advance. Once all of the entries are drawn, the rest of the time slots are available for sale on a first-come-first serve basis, but more on this later.
One year later, and tickets for the Nintendo Museum still sell out regularly. Inside the museum, you can find displays of nearly everything that Nintendo has made over the years. Everything from early versions of consoles, mahjong games, and the company’s original business in the 19th Century, hanafuda playing cards.
You will also find thousands of games displayed for the Game Boy, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Game Cube, Wii, and Switch consoles. It truly is a gamer’s paradise there.
But the best thing about the Nintendo Museum? It’s not just a museum. There is also a whole floor of interactive games that kids will find enjoyable and parents will find nostalgic.
You can take part in classes at the workshop, where you can build your own deck of hanafuda cards, a gift shop, and even a cafeteria where you can design your own Nintendo-themed burger. There is a perfect balance of new and old at the Nintendo Museum that will make it a memorable part of your trip to Japan.
How to Get to the Nintendo Museum Kyoto?
If you are visiting Japan, the best way to get to the Nintendo Museum Kyoto is by train. From Kyoto Station, you have two options: the Kintetsu Line or the JR Line.
The Kintetsu Kyoto Line leaves from Kyoto Station quite regularly. You will want to take it to Ogura Station, which is about a 20-minute ride from Kyoto Station. Once you get off at Ogura Station, take the east exit and walk about five minutes to the Nintendo Museum.
If you opt for the JR Line, you can use the handy Japan Rail Pass from Kyoto Station. Look for the JR Nara Line and also get off at JR Ogura Station. The walk is a bit further, about eight minutes, but the Nintendo Museum is quite easy to find.
For locals, you can drive, but the Nintendo Museum does not offer any parking, so taking the train is the way to go.
Nintendo Museum Kyoto Tickets and Reservations
While getting to the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto is fairly straightforward, getting into the museum is a bit of another story.
As we mentioned, tickets for the Nintendo Museum still sell out well in advance. Since it opened, it has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kyoto.
You can reserve your tickets via the Nintendo Museum website, but first, you will need to enter a lottery. This process is very simple and available in most languages, making it friendly for visitors.
This part is important: the Nintendo Museum ticket lottery is open for dates three months before the date of entry. That means if you are planning to go in December, you will need to enter the draw in September.
To enter the draw, simply navigate to the website to reserve your tickets.
Choose your preferred date and time slot. Note that the entry times are quite specific, so make sure you allow for time to get to the Museum via train.
Enter the lottery and select how many tickets you will need. Once you select this date and time, you will need to confirm the entry via email. The admission prices for the Nintendo Museum are as follows:
Nintendo Museum Kyoto Admission Prices
- Adults (18+) – ¥3,300
- Teens – ¥2,200
- Children (under 12) – ¥1,100
Children under the age of 5 are free to enter.
The key to the timed entry window is that you must enter the Nintendo Museum during that time. Once you are in, you can explore at your own pace and stay as long as you want.
To confirm your purchase, the Nintendo Museum will need a mobile number that is in service. It can be a non-Japanese number, but you need to ensure it allows international SMS messages or calls.
When you get your ticket at the Nintendo Museum, it comes as a nice keepsake with your name on it.
Tip: If you miss the lottery, keep checking because cancellations are common, and last-minute openings sometimes pop up a few days before.
What is Inside the Nintendo Museum Kyoto?
Now to the good stuff: what is inside the Nintendo Museum Kyoto?
The museum is split across multiple themed zones, which are arranged chronologically. This is to take you down the long road of Nintendo’s evolution as a company.
1. The Early Years: From Cards to Toys
The first area in the Nintendo Museum showcases the company’s origins. This dates back to the 1800s, when founder Fusajiro Yamauchi made handmade hanafuda playing cards. Hanafuda is a popular card game in Japan, and reserving a spot in the interactive workshop will allow you to build your own handmade set.
Aside from the hanfuda cards, there are plenty of quirky toys that the Nintendo company created. Things like the Ultra Hand and indoor batting machines give a little look into the creativity the company would later show in its video games.
2. The Golden Age of Consoles
For the parents out there: this area is for you. We loved taking this trip down memory lane and seeing some of our favourite Nintendo games and consoles. The museum displays every major Nintendo console from the Game Boy to the Switch 2.
We were ecstatic to play games on the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64. Meanwhile, our kids were asking us how we could even see with these grainy graphics.
3. The Interactive Floor
The bottom floor of the Nintendo Museum is like an amusement park. There is room after room of interactive games, unique to the Nintendo Museum.
Kids will marvel at the giant Wii Controllers and Super Scope rifles used to play interactive games on massive screens. There is a game where you grab Poké Balls with giant claws and even a row of indoor batting cages. The interactive floor at the Nintendo Museum has it all!
With each ticket admission, you receive ten game credits. Certain games take more than one credit, but it’s usually enough to get you through most of the games you want to play. Don’t forget to check out the augmented reality matching game in the center of the floor!
Being big baseball fans, our favourite was the batting cages. You use a soft, foam bat and hit ping pong balls, but it was a ton of fun! You get special bonus balls for hitting specific targets around each different room, too!
4. The Museum Shop and Hatena Burger Restaurant
At the end of the tour, you’ll find a beautifully designed museum shop selling exclusive Nintendo merchandise like T-shirts, stationery, plush toys, and collectibles you can’t buy anywhere else.
There is also a restaurant called Hatena Burger, where you can make your own burger or order from a menu of different burgers. Here are some of the burgers that the restaurant offers, or you can check out the whole menu here.
You can also get beverages, snacks, and some baked goods. It’s a decent restaurant and the burgers are fun, but it’s also the only place at the museum to get food. As with most places, you cannot bring your own food or beverage into the Nintendo Museum.
Is It Worth It for Families?
In short: yes, if your family loves Nintendo or video games.
The museum strikes a great balance between nostalgia for adults and discovery for kids. The interactive areas keep little ones engaged, while parents enjoy revisiting their gaming past.
As with many things in Japan, the Nintendo Museum is not huge. You can realistically explore the entire place in about three hours.
It is also still a popular tourist destination, so it can get crowded, especially on the weekends. We went on a weekday, and it was still jam-packed.
Most visitors to Japan will make their way to Kyoto at some point. The Nintendo Museum is a nice change of pace from visiting temples, and one that the whole family can enjoy. If you are about to make your dream trip to Japan, then include the Nintendo Museum on your itinerary!
Tips for Visiting with Kids
Here are a few ways to make your visit smoother, more fun, and a little less stressful:
1. Plan Around Your Time Slot
Since entry is timed, arrive 15–20 minutes early. Once you’re in, you can stay as long as you like, but being punctual ensures you get your full experience. It is also respectful to the staff of the Nintendo Museum, who are busy preparing the entry for you and your family.
2. Bring Snacks (or Budget for the Restaurant)
The museum doesn’t allow outside food, but little ones often get hungry mid-visit. The restaurant is your best bet for refuelling, but just be prepared for lines around regular meal hours. There are also some convenience stores and small restaurants within a few blocks of the museum by the station, but you cannot re-enter the museum once you have left.
3. Visit on a Weekday if Possible
If you can, choose a weekday slot. The difference in crowd size is significant, especially for families with strollers. You will also notice that the commuter trains are a little less busy in the middle of the day on weekdays.
4. Combine It with Uji Sightseeing
After the museum, head to Byodo-in Temple (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) or stop for matcha ice cream by the river: a Kyoto specialty. Uji is compact and stroller-friendly, and the slower pace is perfect after the sensory overload of Nintendo’s world.
5. Budget for the Gift Shop
If you have little gamers, set expectations early. The museum gift shop is full of tempting, exclusive items, and it’s easy to get carried away. We wouldn’t say that the gift shop is cheap by any standard, so prepare to pay up! Remember, you also need to carry everything back on the train to Kyoto Station.
Accessibility and Family Facilities
The Nintendo Museum is well-designed for families with young children:
- Stroller access throughout the building.
- Family restrooms and diaper-changing areas on every floor.
- Lockers for bags and jackets near the entrance.
Staff are friendly and mostly English-speaking, and the signage includes English translations, making it very manageable for international visitors.
Final Thoughts: Nintendo Museum Kyoto Review
If you’re planning a trip to Kyoto, then a visit to the Nintendo Museum should be on your itinerary. Whether you are a hardcore gamer or just a fan of Japanese video game culture, the Nintendo Museum has everything you could want. It is also an excellent compromise for young kids who might be tired of visiting temples in Kyoto.
The price is reasonable, and there is enough for everyone in the family to enjoy, regardless of how much they play video games. The interactive floor downstairs will be a hit with everyone, and learning about Nintendo’s history has been made as fun as possible.
You can expect to wait in line for the popular games, especially the batting cages and the giant Wii controllers. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by how fun the museum was and definitely recommend it to any family visiting Kyoto for the day.
FAQs
Is the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto Worth Visiting?
Yes, especially if you have young children. The Nintendo Museum is an incredible escape from walking around temples all day in Kyoto. Your whole family will enjoy learning about the company’s history and playing on the interactive games floor.
How to Get to the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto?
The easiest way to get to the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto is by train from Kyoto Station. You can take either the JR Nara Line to JR Ogura Station or the Kintetsu Kyoto Line to Ogura Station. Both trains will take about 20-25 minutes to get there.
Do You Need Tickets for the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto?
Yes, you will need to reserve and purchase your tickets for the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto long before you go. These tickets are awarded via a lottery system on the website. You also have a chance to buy the tickets after the lottery if there are any spaces available.
