Former Nintendo factory in Kyoto opens as nostalgia-fuelled gaming museum
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Loading... - Kenny Dytor
- 04 Oct 2024
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Nintendo has opened a nostalgia-fueled museum on the site of its former factory in Kyoto, drawing fans and tourists alike. The museum, situated in Uji, a suburb of Kyoto, offers a deep dive into Nintendo's history, showcasing its vast collection of gaming consoles, games, toys, and playing cards, dating back to the company’s origins as a hanafuda playing card manufacturer in 1889.
Visitors can explore iconic gaming consoles, from the 1983 Famicom to the 2017 Switch, along with interactive exhibits featuring oversized controllers and floor-projected playing cards. An adjacent hanafuda workshop allows visitors to make traditional Japanese playing cards, while the museum cafe serves custom burgers. Although the museum doesn't reveal much about Nintendo's creative process, it offers a rare look at prototype controllers from its factory days.
The museum, which expects up to 2,000 visitors daily, is already sold out months in advance, reflecting the strong demand for this new gaming pilgrimage site. Nintendo's creative mastermind, Shigeru Miyamoto, described the museum as a "place of memories," tied to Nintendo’s heritage and aimed at revitalizing the area.
The opening of this museum is part of Japan's broader strategy to promote cultural exports through initiatives like Cool Japan, as interest in video games, manga, and anime grows globally. Video game tourism is thriving in Japan, with other destinations such as Super Nintendo World in Osaka and upcoming themed attractions like the Pokémon park in Tokyo.
For Nintendo, the museum represents a way to honor and preserve its legacy. "It would be a shame to have all of this gathering dust in a warehouse," Miyamoto said, hoping visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the company through its past products.
