The article examines the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto and the company's 137-year history, tracing its evolution from hanafuda playing cards to global video game dominance. It highlights how the museum curates nostalgia through interactive exhibits and preserved artifacts, framing Nintendo's journey as a sequence of applying technology for fun and profit.
Nintendo is opening a dedicated Art Gallery on the second floor of its Nintendo Museum in Uji, Kyoto, on September 3, 2025. The gallery will display original character illustrations, concept drawings, and game art from iconic franchises such as Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon, and Mario Kart, offering visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the artistic development of Nintendo's games. The museum, which opened in October 2024 at a former Nintendo factory, already features historical products, interactive exhibits, and Hanafuda card workshops, with access managed via a lottery system.