Nintendo Direct’s latest episode that dropped this morning featured a guided tour of Nintendo’s new museum by none other than Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. Located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, the museum will open to the public on October 2, 2024. Here’s what we know so far, and some extra information about how to get Nintendo Museum tickets.

Spread across two floors, the Nintendo Museum looks set to contain just about everything Nintendo has ever made, as well as loads of interactive exhibits. The 2^nd floor focuses on the history of the company and their products, with examples of rare items on display like Nintendo’s first two video game consoles from 1977 (Color TV Game-6 and 15).

Nintendo Museum Color-TV Game 15 early Nintendo console

Miyamoto emphasizes that the museum’s 1st floor is full of interactive experiences for visitors. The museum features giant Famicom, N64 and Wii controllers that actually work and can be used by two or more people to play games- a good chance to test your teamwork and coordination skills. In the Nintendo Direct broadcast, Miyamoto and a Nintendo staff member use the giant Famicom controller to successfully complete the first level of Super Mario Bros. (which Miyamoto directed and designed back in 1985).

Nintendo Museum big N64 and Famicom controllers

Although the focus is on video games, the museum also looks at Nintendo’s long history of making other products since their establishment in 1889. These include traditional Japanese card games like karuta and hanafuda, board games, and all kinds of toys. You can even have a go at a baseball batting practice game in a retro-style room of your choice in which Nintendo’s 1968 contraption fires baseballs at you. Hitting the balls into the furniture here is not a problem – in fact, it is encouraged. When the ball hits certain items in the room, it reveals various Mario-related Easter eggs.

Shigeru Miyamoto tries Nintendo Museum baseball batting game

There is also a modern take on Nintendo’s “Laser Clay” shooting gallery game that Nintendo introduced in former bowling alleys in the 1970s. The game involves holding a model gun to shoot at enemies on a large screen. For the museum, Nintendo have modernized the game so that it involves shooting Mario’s enemies on a big screen with light guns modelled on retro NES and SNES peripherals. Watching Miyamoto take on digital hordes of Koopas while avoiding hitting Mario or Princess Peach is one of the most enjoyable and fun moments of the Nintendo Museum Direct broadcast.

Likely in anticipation of how popular the museum will be when it first opens, tickets for October and November are being sold on a lottery basis (the draw ends on August 31). You can apply for Nintendo Museum tickets in either English or Japanese using the museum’s online ticket reservation system to book a day and a timeslot. If successful, you will be issued a QR code. This QR code and a form of ID must be shown at the museum when collecting your special ticket card on the day of your visit (please note that passports are the only accepted ID for foreign nationals). Your personalized ticket card (as shown below) will contain digital coins that can be used to experience the museum’s interactive exhibits (it can also be personalized with your Mii).

Shigeru Miyamoto's Nintendo Museum ticket card — Shigeru Miyamoto’s Nintendo Museum ticket card (Image: Famitsu)

Nintendo Museum Hanafuda — Other experiences at the museum include learning how to play the Hanafuda card game and making your own set of cards.

Nintendo Museum opens on October 2, 2024 in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. Tickets are priced as follows: Adults; 3,300 yen, Youth (ages 12-17): 2,200 yen, Children (ages 6-12): 1,100 yen, Preschoolers (ages 0-5): Free.