When E3 2023 was cancelled, my flights to Los Angeles have been now pointless and I had a credit score with my airline and no the place to go. However then I believed it has been a bit since I went to Japan, nearly 8 years actually and I did wish to go once more. As soon as that little thought popped into my head it didn’t depart and as soon as I dedicated to going, the query remained, what to do once I get there.
As soon as I realised I used to be going to be in three cities, Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, I knew I needed to go to every of the Nintendo Shops positioned inside. Now Nintendo Australia has been very fantastic to native avid gamers by providing up a variety of things from the official retailer in Tokyo – the costs line up as effectively which is sweet, however even that pales compared to what the shop truly gives.
Just a few good perks of the shops are that in the event you examine in along with your My Nintendo account, one thing PAX Australia attendees needs to be conversant in, you will get some good stickers. The opposite good contact is that in the event you scan that very same QR code on the take a look at, you’ll earn some gold cash to your buys. Additionally, energetic Nintendo Swap On-line members also can purchase {hardware} over there, say issues just like the Famicom Controllers or the six-button Sega Mega Drive controller.
So listed here are just a few photographs from the shops, taken by yours really.
Tokyo
The Tokyo Retailer was the primary location opened up in Japan, and the second on this planet after New York. The shop has been open for just a few years now and remains to be as standard as ever, requiring a ticket to get in. The tickets are free, you simply accumulate one close to the entry after which return when its your time to go in, fortunately surrounding the Nintendo Retailer are a Pokemon Heart, Capcom Retailer, Leap Retailer and extra.
My time within the retailer was principally spent attempting to dodge the variety of folks round after which spending simply as a lot time trying out, however there was a lot good stuff to see, it was laborious to not be overwhelmed with what was on supply.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.vooks.net/img/2023/12/20231210_043154394_iOS-rotated.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600&ssl=1)
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![](https://i0.wp.com/www.vooks.net/img/2023/12/20231216_040945346_iOS-rotated.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600&ssl=1)
Osaka
The Osaka department was the second location to open and for essentially the most half seems quite a bit just like the Tokyo location, it has the identical large pixelated Mario determine close to a Query Block, together with large statues of Hyperlink, Mario and extra inside. The gadgets on the market have been nearly an identical to that of Tokyo, aside from the few that have been branded Nintendo Osaka, principally shirts and Knick-knacks, however there have been some gadgets that have been in inventory right here that Tokyo didn’t have.
It was barely bigger than the Tokyo location as effectively and likewise required a ticket to get in, fortunately it was additionally surrounded by a Pokemon Heart, One Piece retailer and a smaller Capcom Retailer but it surely additionally had a Capcom Cafe, so there was quite a bit to see while ready for the entry time to reach.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.vooks.net/img/2023/12/20231216_035643184_iOS-rotated.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.vooks.net/img/2023/12/20231216_041308221_iOS-rotated.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600&ssl=1)
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![](https://i0.wp.com/www.vooks.net/img/2023/12/20231216_041005324_iOS-rotated.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600&ssl=1)
Kyoto
The latest of the shops, Kyoto solely opened just a few months earlier than my go to and it’s vastly totally different to the opposite two. Sure the inventory is usually the identical, aside from just a few gadgets branded for Kyoto they usually did have many extra plushies than the others, however what was totally different is that there aren’t any large statues within the retailer. Kyoto does have a large Mario on a flag pole on the roof, which you will get your photograph taken by, however the characters within the retailer are displayed through screens.
One thing that this retailer had that the others didn’t was mainly a wall of merch, proven within the final photograph under and that provides you an thought of what’s on supply. The escalator you possibly can see behind it takes you as much as the roof.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.vooks.net/img/2023/12/20231215_043932877_iOS-rotated.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.vooks.net/img/2023/12/20231215_044141205_iOS-rotated.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.vooks.net/img/2023/12/20231215_042737294_iOS-rotated.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600&ssl=1)
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Hong Kong
Shock! While in Hong Kong, I used to be heading to a retailer to search out one thing I needed and randomly stumbled upon one other Nintendo Retailer. This one just isn’t a everlasting location, solely a pop-up, however it’s an official retailer none the much less. Given I purchased all the things I needed on the different three shops, my suitcase was fairly full by the point I left, I solely purchased just a few small issues, however nonetheless was impressed on the vary on supply, even when the inventory was branded for Tokyo or had issues on tags stating just for sale in Japan.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.vooks.net/img/2023/12/20231221_052003235_iOS.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.vooks.net/img/2023/12/20231221_051250694_iOS-rotated.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1600&ssl=1)
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So there we go, just a few images from the official Nintendo Shops in Japan and the shock pop-up in Hong Kong. Whereas I might like to see an official retailer make its approach to Australia, for now the vary provided by Nintendo Australia will simply must do.