Nintendo Kyoto
Mario’s Shop at Takashimaya Department Store
Nintendo Kyoto is located at the upper floor of Takashimaya Department Store, right at the center of Kyoto. It opened in October 2023 as Japan’s 3rd official shop of the famous video game publisher, after Tokyo’s Shibuya Parco and Osaka’s Daimaru Umeda. Mario statues in life-size decors provide interesting photo spots for the fans.
The first hints of the Nintendo universe can be spotted from Shijo-dori underground passageway at the exit of the Hankyu station (exits 10 and 11): a large mural (スーパーマリオ壁面) shows the most popular characters of the Japanese video game publisher such as Mario, Luigi, Bowser and Goomba mushrooms. This alley leads to the official Nintendo Kyoto shop set at the upper floor (7F) of Takashiyama Department store, whose full renovation was completed on October 2023.
Exclusive life-size decors
At the ground floor of the glassed building, visitors are welcomed by Mario’s giant head emerging from a green pipe. It is the first life-size photo spot, and an exclusivity to Kyoto’s shop that even its counterparts in Tokyo and Osaka don’t have.
Another installation can be found on the roof-top, with:
- Bricks and interrogation marks; and,
- Mario hitting a level-end flagpole.
Nintendo’s merchandising temple
The shop’s inside decoration, of red and white, is inspired by pixels and grills patterns, characteristic of the first Nintendo video games. More than 1,500 types of items are available for purchase, displayed in cube-shaped shelves that are as high as the ceiling, and include various products:
- Nintendo’s video games and game consoles;
- Accessories and other devices such as Joy-Con Switch controllers in several colors;
- Licensed products of the main characters and classic video games like Kirby, Zelda and Splatoon; and,
- A gashapon machine exclusive to the official shops, dispensing collectible historical controllers.
Various types of goods are available to purchase: plush toys, stationery, figurines, tableware, clothing, food staple products and even Mario sweets that are well displayed and surprisingly of a rather good quality. A game system is also available to use, featuring a game aiming at collecting the largest amount of coins.
Touches of the Nintendo universe are everywhere, down to the wrappings, and video games’ soundtracks are aired in the shop. On a side note, Nintendo account holders can sign up in the shop to get an original sticker.
Nintendo continues to satisfy its many fans and to make itselfs known to a larger audience than the gaming community. Being the region of origin of the company, as its headquarter is located in the south of Kyoto, the Kansai area is favored with the Super Nintendo World park in USJ inaugurated in 2021, and the Nintendo Museum in Uji set to open at the end of 2024. Kyoto’s official shop is also the primary place for information about Nintendo in Japan and can host events and promotion campaigns.