How busy is the Nintendo Museum?
Opened in October 2024 in a former Nintendo factory, the museum is hugely popular, and every visitor has a timed ticket, so it isn't overcrowded. The busy points are the interactive games floor, where queues form for the most popular games, the café and the shop late in the day.
The challenge is getting a ticket at all: lottery demand far exceeds supply for weekends and Japanese holidays.
🔑 The free skip-the-line hack
Before you go, check how busy the Nintendo Museum is likely to be. BeatTheCrowd shows the live crowd level and an hourly forecast for any date.
Check today’s crowds at Nintendo Museum →How the Nintendo Museum lottery works
- Each person can submit one entry per month.
- Tickets are name-registered, and reselling or transferring them is prohibited.
- Weekday slots have much better odds than weekends.
If you lose: cancellation tickets
Tickets returned by lottery winners are released for direct purchase, first come first served, for dates up to two months ahead. Check the official site regularly, especially early in the morning Japan time, as they go quickly.
No same-day tickets
There's no box office and no walk-up entry. Without a ticket, you can't get into the museum, café or shop.
Ticket prices
Admission includes an initial set of coins for the interactive games. You can buy extra coins inside. The Hanafuda card-making workshop needs a separate same-day reservation and fee.
What's inside
2nd floor: Nintendo's history
Every era of Nintendo, from its 1889 hanafuda playing cards and toys, through the Game & Watch and NES, to the Switch, with a huge collection of consoles and games from around the world.
1st floor: hands-on games
Use your coins on giant and classic interactive games based on Nintendo's toys and controllers, such as the Ultra Hand and a giant controller. The most popular games have queues, so pick your favourites early.
Hanafuda workshop, café and shop
The workshop needs a separate booking. The café and shop are only for ticket holders, and the shop gets very busy in the last hours.
Plans by visitor type
Big fans
Allow 3-4 hours. Book the Hanafuda workshop as soon as you arrive, and do the games floor first.
Families
Kids love the games floor. Bring ID for everyone on the ticket.
Short on time
Allow at least 2 hours: the history floor and a round of games.
Getting there
There's no parking nearby, so use public transport.
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying for the lottery too late.
- Choosing only weekend slots, which have the worst odds.
- Turning up without a ticket.
- Forgetting your passport.
- Buying from resellers: tickets are name-registered.
FAQs
How do you get Nintendo Museum tickets?
+
Through the official lottery, using a Nintendo Account, in the month three months before your visit. Cancellation tickets are sometimes released up to two months ahead.
How much are Nintendo Museum tickets?
+
¥3,300 for adults, ¥2,200 for ages 12-17 and ¥1,100 for ages 6-11.
Can you buy Nintendo Museum tickets at the door?
+
No. There are no same-day tickets.
When are Nintendo Museum lottery results announced?
+
On the 1st of the month after you apply. Pay by the 7th.
What day is the Nintendo Museum closed?
+
Tuesdays (Wednesday if Tuesday is a holiday), and 30 December to 3 January.
Heading to Nintendo Museum?
See how busy it is right now and the quietest hours for your date, then walk in when the line is short.
Check live crowds →Sources
How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other, and dated so you know how fresh it is. Last checked 21 October 2026. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.