Nintendo Tokyo is Nintendo‘s first directly managed official store in Japan and originally opened in November 2019. In addition to selling game consoles, software, and character merchandise, the store host events and hands-on gaming sessions. Fans of the gaming giant can expect to find some of their favorite IP being sold at the store including Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon, Animal Crossing, and much more!
The outside of the store is wrapped in everyone’s favorite characters across some of Nintendo‘s biggest titles.
When you walk up the store area there is a secondary space to the right where all he Nintendo console software and hardware are on display. Everything Switch 2 is currently on display but new retro favorites like the classic N64 and Game Cube controllers for newer systems are available. The brand new Virtual Boy also stands out. The row of Alarmos was also nice to see as I know lots of people, ourselves included, weren’t super sold on the idea of a Nintendo clock originally but seeing them in person was definitely a cool experience.
They also had some of the newest merchandise on display like this Yoshi‘s kitchen food themed items and aprons up above to add color to the game displays. I was very tempted to grab the whole set because it’s just such a cute crossover from the newest Mario Kart game.
However my favorite new merch drop had to be the brand new Rhythm Heaven items. With the release of the newest game Rhythm Heaven Groove on the Switch 2 it was nice to see not just the newer characters but also items that threw fans back to yesteryear of some the games greatest hit moments. I hope it helps spread the love of the series so we continue to see more and don’t have to wait another decade for a new installment.
By far the most impressive part of this first area of the store though is the giant wall of amiibos in the back. Everyone just stood in awe and tried to find their favorites. They keep it well stocked so if there is a regular released amiibo on your checklist this is the best spot to find it at the official store.
Probably the most important section for those visiting from out of town will be this first little corner filled with exclusive Nintendo Tokyo merch and souvenirs. While these items may always be in stock at this store the same can’t be said for when visitors return home. For a unique item only available here I highly recommend picking up something for the memory or the bragging rights.
Continuing on the left side of the store you’ll find the Inkling statue along with all the cool and colorful merch for the Splatoon series.
Animal Crossing is the next big section past Splatoon and features Isabelle, Timmy, and Tommy as statues. There’s also a nice little row of Kirby merch as well but sadly no big statue to mark it like the other big Nintendo Tokyo IP. The newly released DAL themed series of merch is very cute and travel oriented but also great accessories for your favorite villager plushie.
There’s an extensive Super Mario themed merch section that includes everything from stationary, snacks, to kitchenware, and apparel. It takes up most of the right half of the store near the cash registers. In particular the newer Mario Kart themed items are fun and practical.
This is my personal recommendation as a fun game and snack themed souvenir for those on a budget. The top shelf chocolate eggs are great because they have a random figure inside and are just 308yen each. Whereas he cookies are packaged in a pipe container which is a fun theming and each is wrapped in one of the Mario game wrappers and 3080yen for 16 cookies.
There’s also a bit of Donkey Kong though it is much smaller than even the Kirby section hidden between the Splatoon and Animal Crossing areas it is filled with some fun merch.
An IP that some people might not expect to have its own statues and little shelving area is Pikmin. However these lovable little aliens are a staple in Japan especially beloved as mascots that you’ll often see people pinning on their bags if you look carefully. In the past they sold the flower vases that are on display here. I hope they bring them back because they were very cute.
There’s a giant screen and demo play area toward the back of the store where visitors can try out the latest Nintendo games and sometimes win prizes. On display this time was the new Splatoon Raiders game.
Of course they now have a large section dedicated to My Mario and toys and apparel geared toward babies and kids as well now. If you want to try any of the newest My Mario items on first hand this is the place to do it.
After checking out of the store there’s one last purchase that diehard fans may want to make and that’s at the gacha capsule toy corner! These three machines in particular are exclusive to the Nintendo store and feature Splatoon pin badges and different controller fidget keychains. See if you can get your favorite or collect them all!
If you exit out the doors just beside the gacha corner you’ll find the outdoor stairs that lead right up to the store but also features a giant 8 bit Mario statue that lights up. It’s a great photo spot to be sure to check it out even if you didn’t take the stairs. It’s a perfect way to round out your trip to Nintendo Tokyo!
Tips & Tricks
When to visit? Arrive early to beat the crowds. Most popular shopping destinations in Japan get very crowded from the afternoon onward especially on the weekend and some stores are forced to turn away customers.
Ticket Entry: Nintendo Tokyo will usually set up a ticketed entry system on days when crowd control is needed like busy holidays, weekends, and whenever new games or merchandise are released. For the most updated information be sure to check the official social media accounts.
My Nintendo Rewards: Have your My Nintendo account and application set up and up to date. Visitors can get a special digital stamp for visiting and sometimes will receive exclusive Nintendo Tokyo stickers. Load up your QR and ask a staff member for more details. Currently the reader station is located by the Switch 2 area. In addition, when you check out you’ll be able to get My Nintendo points for your account as well with your purchases.
Seasonal Goodies: During holidays especially the winter season Nintendo Tokyo usually includes bonus Christmas themed decorations with purchases so be sure to check for announcements when holidays are approaching.
Where’s the Pokémon? One thing to note is while this is the Nintendo store specifically the Pokémon IP is nowhere to be found because there is a Pokémon Center located right behind Nintendo Tokyo!
Have you visited Nintendo Tokyo before? How was your experience? What kind of merch do you want to buy or see at the store next? Let us know you thoughts in the comments!
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