The Nintendo Museum in Japan is set to receive an art gallery extension.
The art gallery will allow visitors to “explore a wide range of game artwork, including character illustrations and concept art”.
It’s set to open on 3rd September at the Nintendo Museum near Kyoto, which is built on the site of the company’s former hanafuda manufacturing plant that opened in 1969.
17 Hidden Nintendo References In The Nintendo MuseumWatch on YouTube
The art gallery is an intriguing prospect, which will no doubt have fans speculating as to what kind of never-before-seen artwork may be included. Perhaps some Miyamoto originals from when he designed Mario and Link? Or will this be a digital art display?
The Nintendo Museum opened on 2nd October last year, which includes exhibits showcasing the history of Nintendo’s games as well as fun minigames to try out. Then, in the gift shop, you can buy one of those giant controller cushions.
Except, the museum already feels somewhat like a gallery. As former Eurogamer managing editor Katharine Castle wrote when she visited last year, there’s a “dizzying amount of stuff to absorb” but Nintendo states up front it’s all “shared with little explanation”.
“Having spent nine hours wandering round the museum this week,” Katharine wrote, “it’s a concept that feels both refreshing, but also rich with missed opportunity. This isn’t a place that finally pulls back the curtain on Nintendo’s secret inner workings, nor is it the kind of exhibit that sheds new light on what you already know.”
The Art Gallery will open on Wednesday, September 3rd on the 2nd floor of the Nintendo Museum Exhibition Building. Visitors can explore a wide range of game artwork, including character illustrations and concept art.
— ニンテンドーミュージアム (@Museum_Nintendo) June 24, 2025
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I also luckily visited the museum last year on holiday and, while I had a great time reminiscing about past consoles and games, I didn’t feel I truly learned anything new about Nintendo as a company.
Still, the opportunity to potentially see some rare artwork is certainly a draw to visit the Nintendo Museum, though whether you’re able to visit remains luck of the draw for those applying for tickets.
As Nintendo Life reported, the museum was also updated back in April, to include a Switch 2 exhibit.
Ahead of the new console’s launch, we published a review of Nintendo’s other controversially expensive handheld – the Virtual Boy. And that’s something you can see for yourself at the museum.
