Hi!! I’m OKAERI that is traveler all over the world :))
「OKAERI TRAVEL」 concept is to go on a highly satisfying trip tomorrow! I’d love to introduce fun places by local voice!
Nintendo Museum Opening Near Ogura Station, Uji City, Kyoto Japan in October 2024!
Ticket applications for May 2025 are being accepted via lottery until February 28.
As someone who grew up with the video game（ex NES Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo Game Boy,3DS etc）, I really want to win a ticket! So, I decided to apply and share my experience and thoughts here X))
If you wanna go Nintendo Museum , plz check below!!!
A Unique Museum Experience
Rather than a traditional history museum, the Nintendo Museum has more of an art museum feel. There aren’t many detailed explanations for the exhibits; instead, visitors can enjoy comparing different products and interpreting them on their own.
This approach reminded me of Dyson’s HQ space that is a Singaporean–British multinational technology company , where past prototypes are displayed without explanations, allowing visitors to form their own impressions.
The museum provides great opportunities for cross-generational conversations and is an excellent destination for international visitors!
Two Interactive Workshops
Nintendo’s origins lie in Hanafuda (Japanese playing cards). Today, digital games dominate, making it rare to engage with traditional games. However, the museum offers two workshops where visitors can experience these games in a fun and interactive way 🙂
You can apply for workshops that take place within three hours of your entry time. Even with an afternoon slot, you may still have a chance to participate. That said, morning slots might have better availability… 🙂
Exclusive Café & Shop
The museum also features an exclusive café and shop, accessible only to visitors with an admission ticket.
Honestly , I checked SNS restaurant is NOT so good.
The character’s menu seems like not yummy…I hope it’s improving until I win,hahaha. Or even this situation, it will be good experience , so let’s try it.
How to Apply for the Lottery
To enter the lottery, you’ll need:
- Nintendo Account (can be created during the application process)
- Phone number or Land line
- Number of visitors
- Visitor information
- Preferred dates (up to three choices)
To prevent ticket resales, phone number verification is strict.
You’ll also need to present an ID on the day of your visit.
Since applications are tied to your Nintendo Account and phone number, creating multiple accounts with different email addresses to increase your chances isn’t an option.
Best Times to Win a Ticket?
As expected from Nintendo, the application page displays congestion levels for each date and time slot. Since the status updates in real time, you don’t have to rely on speculation.^^
From what I observed, weekends and weekday mornings are highly competitive! However, weekday evenings had more availability.
No Payment Required at the Lottery Stage!
Some lotteries require credit card details upfront, automatically charging you upon winning. However, for the Nintendo Museum, no credit card information is needed during the lottery application—just the basic details listed above.
The lottery only grants the right to purchase a ticket, not direct payment.
Important Post-Lottery Steps
This part can be a bit tricky…?!
- 1st of every month (afternoon): Lottery results announced
- By the 7th of every month: Ticket payment via credit card ←
- From 2 PM the day before your visit: QR code for entry issued
The most important step is making the payment by the 7th. If you miss this deadline, your ticket will be automatically canceled.
A week should be plenty of time to pay, but it’s easy to forget—especially if you get excited about winning and then get too busy. So, be careful!
Lottery is terrible difficult to win… 🙁
(Can it really be this hard to win…?)
According to the official site, results are announced on the afternoon of the 1st:
It’s my lottery result below
- Oct & Nov tickets: Lost
- Dec tickets: Lost
- Jan tickets: Lost
- Feb tickets: Lost
- Mar tickets: Skipped
- Apr tickets: Lost
(I applied for both highly congested and medium congestion slots.)
So far, I’ve lost every time… (/・ω・)/ It looks like this will be a long road ahead.
First-Come, First-Served Ticket Sales
Lottery results are announced on the 1st of each month for tickets two months later. However, from mid-month (around the 11th–15th), first-come, first-served tickets are also available.
That said, competition is still fierce, and I rarely see these tickets available. ><
Follow the official Twitter (X) account for updates on first-come sales:
Ticket Prices
If you do manage to win a ticket, here are the prices:
- Adults: JPY3,300
- Middle/High School Students: JPY2,200
- Elementary School Students: JPY1,100
- Preschool Children: Free
(*All prices include tax.)
Museum and exhibition fees typically range from JPY1,000 to JPY2,000 in Japan, so this is slightly pricey. But considering the Nintendo brand, it seems reasonable.
Alternative Nintendo-Themed Experiences
Even it is quite difficult to getting a ticket,,,,
But Guys! I want to introduce some alternative ways to enjoy Nintendo content!
Watch the Nintendo Museum Introduction Video
The official museum website features a video introduction. Watching it may help you better appreciate the exhibits, so I highly recommend checking it out!
Visit the Three Official Nintendo Stores
I checked , but it seems like Japanese web site only… Please ask Google teacher for help.
If you’re a Nintendo fan, you probably already know about the stores in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Their merchandise is incredibly stylish and fun to browse!
Kyoto, in particular, has plenty of photogenic spots X)
Nintendo has also held special events where checking in with your Nintendo Account (used for the museum reservation) grants you a novelty gift—so it’s worth visiting!
Conclusion
This was an overview of the Nintendo Museum, opening in October 2024.
Looking back, I grew up alongside Nintendo products. From my childhood NES to playing Pokémon and Animal Crossing with colleagues after long workdays.
Even during my world travels, I played EMS games with friends at the Nexon Computer Museum in Jeju, South Korea.
For now, I’ll keep trying for tickets!^^
Hope this helps with your trip planning. Enjoy your travels!
(*Information is accurate at the time of writing. Please check the official website for details.)
