The Nintendo Museum is a new tourist spot that opened in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture on October 2, 2024.
Due to its popularity, admission requires advance reservations, and tickets are sold by lottery.
In this article, we’ll thoroughly explain how the lottery works, first-come, first-served sales, how to reserve tickets, admission fees, access, highlights, and more!
I’ve summarized it in an easy-to-understand way, so please use it as a reference!
What is the Nintendo Museum?
The Nintendo Museum is a facility where you can experience and experience the products and history of play that Nintendo has created to date.
You can get a feel for Nintendo’s commitment to crafting through the experience of making Hanafuda cards, the origins of Nintendo, and playing games using the latest technology.
There is also a cafe and shop on the premises, where you can enjoy limited edition merchandise and original hamburgers!
Highlights of the Nintendo Museum
Highlight 1: Exhibition area
Products released by Nintendo in the past are on display, allowing you to experience the evolution of Nintendo’s manufacturing process!
Highlight 2: Experience Area
You can enjoy a wide variety of entertainment that has been born from Nintendo’s manufacturing, recreated using modern technology!
見どころ③ ワークショップ
There are also workshops available where you can experience making and playing with Hanafuda cards! (*Additional fees apply)
Highlight 4: Cafe
There is also a cafe where you can enjoy special drinks and original hamburgers!
Highlight ⑤ Shops
There is a shop that sells museum-exclusive goods, and you can purchase items that can only be found here!
Ticket lottery sales
All tickets for the Nintendo Museum must be reserved in advance and are sold by lottery and first-come, first-served basis.
We’ll explain each process in detail below!
Even if the lottery application deadline for the day you want to go has passed, you can still purchase tickets on a first-come, first-served basis!
About the lottery sale
The system is a little complicated, but…
Simply put, you can only apply for tickets for 3 months in advance!
In other words, if you want to go in November, you have to apply in August, and if you want to go in December, you have to apply in September.
Once November arrives, you will no longer be able to apply for the lottery for January of the following year.
Please read the detailed process below!
① Lottery application begins
You can apply for the lottery up to 3 months before your desired date of admission!
Also, applications cannot be made within 2 months of your desired date of admission.
②Notification of lottery results (announcement of winners)
You will be notified of the lottery results by email on the afternoon of the 1st of the month following the month you applied!
*On September 1st, the first lottery day, I received the email around 5pm!
③Winners’ ticket purchase
If you win, you must pay for your tickets within 7 days of the results being announced!
Follow the link in the winning email to complete the payment process.
④ Issuing QR tickets
QR tickets can be issued from 2pm on the day before your visit!
5) Distribution of tickets to accompanying persons
Distribute the QR ticket to your companions before your visit!
First-come-first-served sales
Don’t worry if you don’t win the lottery, as any tickets that become available due to cancellations or other reasons will be available to purchase on a first-come, first-served basis!
This first-come, first-served sale will take place after the lottery is over, and will apply to tickets up to about two months in advance.
Check out the examples below!
*Tickets for October are unclear, but they can be purchased from early September until the day before your visit!
Be sure to check the official website regularly so you don’t miss any cancellations!
How to increase your chances of winning the ticket lottery
Here are some ways to increase your chances of winning!
① All accompanying persons will enter the lottery!
If multiple people win after everyone has applied, you can just cancel the other entries!
If you don’t pay by the deadline (within 7 days of winning), your entry will be automatically cancelled with no cancellation fee, so don’t worry.
② Ask your acquaintances or relatives to enter the lottery!
Anyone can participate in the Nintendo Museum lottery, even if they are not visitors to the museum.
If you are asking a friend or acquaintance to apply, have them check “Applicant will not visit the museum” on the application screen and apply!
*You will need to enter visitor information when applying, so only ask people who are willing to give out personal information.
③ Aim for quiet times!
Weekdays are less crowded than weekends and holidays, so that’s the time to aim for them!
(The lottery odds are around 5-10 times on weekdays and 10-20 times on weekends and holidays)
Also, the odds are especially high early in the morning, so try to go as late as possible!
What is the odds of winning the lottery?
The ticket lottery odds for the Nintendo Museum are around 5 to 10 times on weekdays and 10 to 20 times on weekends and holidays.
(On weekends and holidays, the odds can be as high as 50 times!)
*The above figures are from just after the opening (October to November 2024), so they are expected to calm down a bit from December 2024 onwards.
Although it depends on the time of day, odds tend to be higher in the mornings, so aim for the afternoon (preferably on a weekday)!
Steps from purchasing tickets to visiting the museum
Below is a summary of the steps you need to take before visiting the museum!
Don’t forget each step.
- Lottery application: Lottery applications can be made up to three months prior to your visit.
- Check lottery results: Lottery results will be notified on the 1st of the following month.
- (If unsuccessful) First-come, first-served sales: Tickets can be purchased up to two months prior to your visit.
- Payment: Winners must pay the ticket price within the specified period.
- QR ticket issuance: QR tickets will be issued after 2pm the day before your visit.
- Admission: Present your QR ticket and ID on the day to enter.
- Workshop reservations: Workshop reservations can be made after entering the museum.
Contact Us
If you still have questions about purchasing tickets after reading this article, try calling us.
Dial the number below and then dial “1: Talk to an operator” then “4: About products and services” to be connected.
Before calling, we also recommend that you check the “Admission tickets Q&A” at the end of the article.
Nintendo Online Inquiry Desk：0570-011-120
*10:00~18:00 (excluding weekends, holidays, and company holidays)
About the Workshop
The Nintendo Museum not only allows visitors to experience Nintendo culture and history, but also offers “Craft & Play” workshops where visitors can actually participate and have fun.
There is a Craft Room where you can make Hanafuda cards, and a Play Room where you can play with Hanafuda cards.
[CraftRoom] Let’s make some Hanafuda cards
- Duration: Approximately 60 minutes (including cleaning up time)
- Participation Fee: 2,000 yen (tax included)
- Content: A workshop to actually make Hanafuda cards using a special kit.
Choose your favorite design from the 12 months, paint, fold, and glue four Hanafuda cards together to make your own.
You can take home the completed Hanafuda cards!
[PlayRoom] Let’s play some Hanafuda cards
- Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
- Participation fee: 500 yen per person (tax included) *Experience in pairs
- Content: Based on the classic Hanafuda game “Hanaawase”, this experience uses image recognition and projection technology to make Hanafuda an easy experience even for beginners.
The rules will be explained during the lesson, so no prior knowledge of Hanafuda is required!
From booking to experience
After entering the museum on the day, reservations can be made at the information counter in the lobby on the 1st floor of Exhibition Hall 1, or at the Workshop Information desk in front of the Play Room on the 2nd floor of Exhibition Hall 3.
Notes
- Each workshop can only be experienced once per person.
- If the workshop is fully booked, you may not be able to experience it.
Access Information
Access by train
We recommend taking the train, as it takes about 20 minutes from Kyoto Station to Kokura Station on both the Kintetsu and JR lines.
- 5 minutes walk from the East Exit of Kokura Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line
- 8 minutes walk from the North Exit of JR Kokura Station on the JR Nara Line
Access by car (parking lot)
There is no car or bicycle parking, and it appears that they do not allow visitors to come by taxi, private car, motorbike, or bicycle.
If you absolutely must go by car or motorbike, you will need to use a paid parking lot nearby.
