The Nintendo Museum opened in 2024 in Ogura, part of the city of Uji just south of Kyoto, on the site of a former Nintendo factory. It is one of the most requested visits from families and gaming fans. It is also one of the hardest to sell as a fixed product, because of how its tickets work.
How the tickets work
- A monthly lottery. Most tickets are allocated by a drawing about three months before the visit month. Winners are told by email and must pay within a short deadline.
- Tickets carry names. Each ticket is issued in the visitor's own name, and ID can be checked at entry. Tickets cannot be passed to someone else.
- Leftovers are rare. Unclaimed or cancelled tickets may go on general sale later, but there is no guarantee of any.
- No group booking route. The museum does not publish a group or agency channel. Each party applies for itself.
What this means for agents
- Do not promise entry. We never sell the museum as a confirmed inclusion. We present it as a possible extra if the client wins a ticket.
- Help clients apply. Clients enter the lottery themselves, in their own names, with every visitor listed. We tell them when the window for their travel month opens.
- Plan the day either way. If the tickets come through, we build the day around the entry time. If not, the day still works.
- Closed days. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, with some exceptions around holidays, and over the New Year.
A strong day in Uji with or without tickets
- Byodo-in. Uji's World Heritage temple, with its Phoenix Hall, is a short ride from the museum.
- Green tea. Uji is one of Japan's great tea towns; see our tea regions guide.
- Getting there. The museum is a short walk from Ogura Station on the Kintetsu line and from JR Ogura. Visitors are asked to come by public transport.
How we plan it
We brief clients on the lottery, build a flexible Uji day, and add the museum if tickets are won. For other ideas, see our anime and pop culture guide and our family tours guide.
FAQ
How do you get Nintendo Museum tickets? Mostly through a monthly lottery about three months ahead, with tickets issued in each visitor's name.
Can a travel agency book Nintendo Museum tickets for a group? The museum does not publish a group or agency booking route. Each party applies for itself.
Where is the Nintendo Museum? In Ogura, Uji, south of Kyoto, a short walk from Kintetsu Ogura and JR Ogura stations.
Want an Uji day in your clients' Kyoto programme? Write to b2b@explera.jp, message the trade desk on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090, or register on the B2B portal. Proposals within 24 hours. IATA TIDS 96215733, ASTA member 900408341.
