Nintendo Museum is one of Japan’s most unique attractions because it is built inside Nintendo's former Uji Ogura factory in Kyoto and traces the company's history from playing cards to game consoles, with hands-on interactive exhibits that make it feel more like an afternoon of play than a passive walk-through. It is worth adding to your Japan itinerary if you want more than a quick stop.
The key planning point: tickets are not sold at the door. You apply through an official lottery system that opens three months before your intended visit. For most Malaysian travellers booking a Japan trip, that means treating the Nintendo Museum as an early anchor in your planning rather than a last-minute add-on.
Quick facts
- Address: 56 Kaguraden, Ogura-cho, Uji-shi, Kyoto 611-0042
- Hours: 10:00–20:00, Wednesday to Monday (closed Tuesdays — open if Tuesday is a public holiday, closed Wednesday instead)
- Closed: Tuesdays and 30 December–3 January
- Admission: Adults : ¥3,300 | Youth (12–17 years old): ¥2,200 | Children (6–11 years old): ¥1,100 | Under 6: Free of charge
- Nearest station: Ogura Station, Kintetsu Kyoto Line (East exit, 5-minute walk)
- Transport note: No visitor parking. Public transport only — no access by car, motorcycle, bicycle, or taxi
Getting to the Super Nintendo Museum
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How to get Nintendo Museum tickets
Image credit: Nintendo Museum
The museum runs a monthly lottery. Applications open on the first day of each month, three months before your intended visit, so if you're planning a September visit, you need to apply in June. Results come out on the first of the following month, and if selected, you have until around the 7th to pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or JCB; all cards must support 3D Secure authentication)
Step-by-step: how to apply for the Nintento Museum Lottery
- Create a free Nintendo Account at nintendo.com if you don't have one.
- Go to museum-tickets.nintendo.com and log in.
- Select up to 3 preferred date and time combinations.
- Provide the full name (as it appears on your passport) and phone number for everyone in your group.
- Wait for the results email. Be sure to check your spam folder, as it sometimes lands there.
- If selected, click the purchase link and complete payment before the deadline.
- Complete the automated phone verification call.
- Issue your QR code ticket from 14:00 the day before your visit. Once issued, it's non-refundable.
You can book up to 8 tickets per reservation. If 3D Secure authentication fails — which can happen with some Malaysian-issued cards — try a different card or network. Also note that the payment deadline is in Japan Standard Time (JST), 1 hour ahead of Malaysian time (MYT), so convert the deadline before the day of payment.
What to do if you miss the lottery
Missing the draw doesn't mean missing out. Unclaimed tickets often return to the pool about two weeks after winners are notified, typically at 14:00 JST (15:00 MYT) on the second Wednesday of the month. The ticketing site also refreshes available slots at the top of every hour.
A few tips to improve your chances:
- Apply on the last day of the application window — the colour-coded calendar shows which dates are less competitive by then.
- Prioritise weekday visits, which attract less competition than weekends.
- Avoid April if you have flexibility, as cherry blossom season drives higher demand.
- The 10:00 opening slot tends to have shorter queues before the museum fills up around 11:30.
Where is the Nintendo Museum and how do you get there from Kyoto or Osaka?
The Nintendo museum is in Uji City, about 10 km south of central Kyoto. There is no visitor parking and all visitors must use public transport.
From Kyoto Station
Route | Line | Journey time | Fare | Walk to museum |
Kintetsu Railway (recommended) | Kintetsu Kyoto Line → Ogura Station (East exit) | ~20 min | ~¥360 | 5 min |
JR (JR Pass holders) | JR Nara Line → JR Ogura Station (North exit) | ~20–25 min | ¥310 (or free with JR Pass) | 8 min |
From Osaka
From central Osaka (Umeda or Namba), take the JR Rapid or Shinkansen to Kyoto Station (approximately 15 minutes), then connect to either line above. Total journey from central Osaka runs around 45–55 minutes.
Getting around Uji
A bus connects the Ogura area to the main Uji tourist district approximately 8 times a day. Alternatively, it's just two minutes by train on the JR Nara Line from JR Ogura Station to JR Uji Station, from where Byodoin Temple and the matcha street are a 10-minute walk. Wheelchair users and visitors with prams should note that the underground passage at Ogura Station has stairs only, the museum website provides an alternative blue-marked surface route.
What can you see inside the Nintendo Museum?
Image credit: Nintendo Museum
The museum spans two main floors in Exhibition Building 1, with separate buildings for workshops, the café, and the shop.
Second floor: the exhibition and Art Gallery
The second floor holds Nintendo's product history in chronological display cases — over 350 original items, from the earliest Hanafuda playing cards and toys like the Ultra Hand and Ultra Machine, through every major home and handheld console up to the Nintendo Switch generation. Photography is not permitted anywhere on this floor and is strictly enforced.
The Art Gallery opened on 3 September 2025 on the same floor, displaying original character illustrations and concept drawings from Nintendo games including The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon. It's included in standard admission at no extra charge.
First floor: interactive exhibits
Each visitor receives 10 digital coins on a physical play ticket at entry. These unlock the eight interactive experiences on the first floor. Coins can't be purchased, topped up, or carried over — decide which exhibits to prioritise before you go in.
Exhibit | What it is | Coins | Players |
Zapper & Scope SP | Large-scale shooting game using NES Zapper and Super Scope controllers: up to 13 players simultaneously | 4 | 1–13 |
Big Controller | Classic games on giant NES, SNES, N64, and Wii controllers, requires a partner | 2 each | 2 |
Shigureden SP | Interactive floor projection based on traditional Ogura Hyakunin Isshu poetry card game | 2 | Up to 20 |
Ultra Machine SP | Baseball batting with the classic Ultra Machine pitching toy, reimagined at full scale | 2 | 1 |
Love Tester SP | Two-player love-level test based on the original 1969 toy, minimum height 120 cm | 2 each | 2 |
Ultra Hand SP | Grabbing challenge using a scaled-up version of Nintendo's 1966 extendable arm toy | 1 | 1 |
Game & Watch SP | Shadow-based gameplay projected onto a giant screen, your shadow becomes the character | 1 | 1 |
Nintendo Classics | 80+ retro titles from the NES, SNES, and N64 era | 1 | 1–2 |
The Zapper & Scope SP (4 coins) consistently draws the longest queues — up to 40 minutes during busy periods. Play it first if it's a priority.
Outdoor courtyard, workshops, café, and shop
The outdoor courtyard has photo spots including Super Mario green pipes, a Pokémon GO Pikachu manhole cover, and Kirby vending machines. Complimentary family photos with Super Mario props are set up here too.
Two Hanafuda workshops are available on the day at an extra charge, booked at the information desk on arrival: Hanafuda Card Making (~60 min, ¥2,000/person) and Hanafuda Gameplay (~30 min, ¥500/person, minimum two players). Both fill up quickly — sign up as soon as you arrive.
The Hatena Burger café in Exhibition Building 3 is accessible to ticket holders only, with standard burgers from ¥900. It's busiest between 12:00 and 15:00, and multiple visitors rate the food as average — consider eating before or after your visit. The Bonus Stage shop sells exclusive merchandise not available online or at other Nintendo stores, including oversized controller plushes (¥11,000–13,200, one per person) that often sell out by mid-afternoon.
How much time should you plan for the Nintendo Museum?
Image credit: Nintendo Museum
For most visitors, 2–3 hours covers the main exhibition and interactive games. Add an hour or more for a workshop, and another 30–45 minutes if you plan to eat at the café. Families with young children typically spend 4 hours or more. The museum is open until 20:00, so a 15:00 entry still gives you plenty of time.
Nintendo Museum visitor tips for families, first-timers, and gamers
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early, security screening happens before entry, similar to airport bag checks.
- Bring your passport (the only accepted ID for non-Japanese visitors). Your name must match the ticket exactly.
- Use the coin lockers (¥100 deposit, fully refunded) for large bags before security. Free Wi-Fi is available in 60-minute sessions.
- Play Zapper & Scope SP first, before 11:30 or after 17:00 when queues are shorter.
- For families: children aged 5 and under receive 4 special experience cards instead of a standard 10-coin play ticket. Some exhibits require a minimum height of 120 cm. Nursing rooms with cribs, changing tables, and a water heater are in Exhibition Buildings 1 and 3.
- Photography is allowed on the first floor and outdoor courtyard only. Selfie sticks, tripods, and commercial video recording are not permitted anywhere.
Is Nintendo Museum worth visiting?
Image credit: Nintendo Museum
Yes, the Nintendo Museum is worth visiting as long as you go in with the right expectations. Just keep in mind that the museum is built around appreciation and nostalgia, not education. Display cases hold over 350 products, but wall text is minimal by design.
Where it genuinely delivers is the interactive exhibits: playing Donkey Kong Country on a giant controller, competing in the light gun gallery with a dozen other visitors, or seeing the Game & Watch reimagined as a shadow game on a floor-sized screen. The Art Gallery (September 2025) adds a real draw for design-minded fans; concept drawings for Zelda, Mario, and Splatoon are displayed at large scale.
For Malaysian travellers making a dedicated trip, the museum sits naturally alongside a half-day in Uji, which adds real value to the day beyond the museum itself. At ¥3,300 for adults, admission is reasonable by Japanese museum standards. The main barrier is securing the ticket. Once you have it, the visit is straightforward.
For more Japan trip planning ideas, browse the Klook Malaysia travel guides.
FAQ about Nintendo Museum
Do I need to book Nintendo Museum tickets in advance?
Yes you need to book Nintendo Museum tickets in advance. Tickets are only available through the official lottery at museum-tickets.nintendo.com. No tickets are sold at the door, and you need a free Nintendo Account to apply.
How much does Nintendo Museum cost?
- Adults (18+): ¥3,300
- Youth (12–17): ¥2,200
- Children (6–11): ¥1,100
- Under 6: Free
Workshops are not included in admission. Additional fees apply, and same-day reservations must be made at the information desk.
What ID do I need to enter the Nintendo Museum?
Non-Japanese visitors must present a passport. The name on your ticket must match exactly. Hotel key cards and driving licences are not accepted.
How do I get to the Nintendo Museum from Kyoto Station?
Take the Kintetsu Kyoto Line to Ogura Station (~20 min, ~¥360), then walk 5 minutes from the East exit. Alternatively, the JR Nara Line to JR Ogura Station (¥310 or free with JR Pass) takes 20–25 minutes with an 8-minute walk to the museum.
Can you take photos inside the Nintendo Museum?
Photography is allowed on the first floor and in the outdoor courtyard. The second-floor exhibition hall has a strict no-photography rule. Selfie sticks, tripods, and commercial video recording are not permitted anywhere.
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