Kansai’s first official Nintendo-run store
Nintendo OSAKA!

A Nintendo-fan paradise, Nintendo OSAKA opened Nov. 11, 2022 on the 13th floor of Daimaru Umeda, near Osaka Station.
The store is a first in Kansai, an official outlet operated directly by world-famous game manufacturer NINTENDO. The Osaka location follows the location recently opened in Shibuya, Tokyo and features favorites from Nintendo’s character cast in games like Super Mario Bros, Splatoon, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, and Pikmin, just to name a few.
I visited the store shortly after the grand opening and took way too many pictures (see below). Have a look at the process for getting into the store, the most popular items, and the store in general. I got a bit carried away, so feel free to jump ahead to whichever section grabs your interest.

■Nintendo OSAKA is 2 times bigger than the Tokyo store!

The 13th floor of Daimaru Umeda is a mecca for anime and Japanese game fans. The department store is located just next to the central entrance to JR Osaka Station and is part of the Osaka Station City South Building complex. Nintendo OSAKA is just the latest to open on a floor that includes Pokémon Center Osaka, CAPCOM store & cafe, TOMICA SHOP, PLARAIL SHOP, and ONE PIECE straw store.

Background music from your favorite games fills the air in this sprawling shopping spot. The Osaka store stretches over 800 square meters (8611 Ft²) of floor space, which is over 2 times as big as the 300 square meter (3229 Ft²)Tokyo location.

I visited the store on a 3-day weekend, which meant there were a lot of other people there too. However, admission is capped with a ticketing system to keep the store from getting overcrowded.
As soon as you walk in the store, you’re greeted by a giant Mario. He’s in that pose where you can almost hear the words coming out of his mouth—Here we go!!!

And there are lots more characters waiting inside the store. Look for the star of your favorite game standing tall over the related game characters and merchandise.

The statues are so realistic and detailed they’re fun to look at from every angle. Just look at the shield on Link’s back! His shield looks like it’s made of real metal and there’s even chain mail peeking out from under his clothing.

Right in the middle of the store, red, yellow and blue Pikmins are looking out over the store waiving hello.

Apparently, these are one-of-a-kind statues and only found at Nintendo OSAKA.

Take a good look around and you’ll find little Pikmin hiding in the strangest places.

It’s this small attention to details that really stole my heart and my eye. This is the kind of store you’ll want to take a lot of pictures in.
Like this Mario statue on the outside of the store, it was clearly made for photos. It looks just like the original Mario Brothers game with chunky pixels and a bright green pipe.

Follow Mario and his friends! They’re all heading straight for the store entrance.

■So what do they have? Over 2,000 items from Nintendo games

Since it’s an official store run directly by Nintendo, there are over 2,000 items from popular games and well-loved characters. Among those, approximately 1,000 are only to be found in Nintendo-run shops. Brand new items will capture the hearts and imaginations of the young and old.
And don’t overlook the special items you can only get in the Osaka store.

Limited items: Get something with the logo as a souvenir to bring home!

These would make a great gift or souvenir from your visit to the Osaka store. Logo t-shirts and pens are some of the merchandise that are sold here, and here alone.

The pens are decorated with the logo and character illustrations. They’re only available at the official Nintendo OSAKA and Nintendo TOKYO stores, so they would make a great gift.

Nintendo OSAKA figures that you can take home!

The Nintendo OSAKA store statues are available in mini-sizes so you can take them home with you. The featured characters are from Super Mario Brothers, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, and Splatoon. And if you buy the whole set of 4, it comes with a pedestal.

They’re a little bit pricey at ¥7,150 (tax included), but definitely worth it for die-hard fans!

Super Mario—Nintendo’s main mascot

Whether you play Nintendo games or not, you definitely know this famous plumber!
And you will see Mario’s face all over the store on everything from soft toys and clothing to household goods.

Of all the new Yoshi inspired products, these egg-shaped cushions are the biggest sellers. You can see why! Don’t they look so soft and squishy?
Plus there are trays for baking, picnic-ware, cups, saucers, teapots, and more!

Question Mark Bricks and Brick Blocks can transform your whole room into Super Mario World. These boxes are great for tidying up too.

The Question Mark Block notepad is full of surprises. Every time you peel off a new sheet, a new item is waiting underneath. This will add a little fun into your work or school day. You’ll feel invincible when you get the star!

Look at all the Power-up Marios! You can get Mario in Goomba’s Shoe, Penguin Suit Mario, Cat Peach, and so many more original plush toys.

Plenty of classic Mario merch will have you feeling nostalgic or, depending on your age, give you something to ask your parents about.

These memo pads look so much like the old Nintendo cassettes. So much so that I was tempted to pick it up and blow the dust out. I couldn’t resist and had to buy one!

Make mealtime more fun with the Mario family table sets.

Super Mario LEGO® sets and a Mario/Peach bride and groom pair are just waiting to be found. The store has even collaborated with Japanese loungewear brand Gelato Pique for some uniquely comfortable Mario clothes.

Splatoon—colorful pop in vivid colors

This family favorite comes in full color. The recently released Splatoon 3 is the main concept here and there are lots of items from the world in this game.

Squid and octopus cushions are another big seller too because just look how colorful and fluffy they are.

Amiibo are interactive character figurines so they can communicate with your game system.

You can also get a Splatoon fingerboard and collect Kojake keychains that run on wheels.

Pikmin—addictively cute characters

There’s just something about these little Pikmin that are so cute. They make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

The Pikmin vases were an instant hit. And of course they were! Find a flower to complete your Pikmin’s look and it will brighten up your room or office.

These little Pikmin walking around are so cute it could make your heart sing. Watching them go about their business on items you use in your daily life will bring and unexpected smile to your face.

This is slightly off topic, but…
If you have the Pikmin Bloom app you’ll want to get one of the special Pikmin here because you can get a golden seedling.


The Legend of Zelda—capturing the heart of true fans

A classic Nintendo game well-loved throughout the world, The Legend of Zelda has inspired all of these items decorated with Zelda symbols and art. Most of the items for sale are very practical so can use them in your daily routine. Hyrule, here we come!

The white mug on the right with three hearts actually changes colors when it’s holding something hot. Pour in a warm drink and the black hearts turn red, just like hearts in the game. They even change color from left to right, the same way they do when Link’s power is restored.

You can get a pin shaped like the Royal Crest of the kingdom of Hyrule, a Hylian shield, or a Heart Container.

Look at this cool t-shirt covered in Zelda art. It features the original game package artwork from the first Zelda game released in Japan.

Plus there’s a whole line of Korok goods and accessories based on these Forest Spirit people and everything is incredibly cute.

Animal Crossing—living the forest life from the comfort of your home

Stationary, home decor, and kitchen accessories all in Animal Crossing theme. Filling your house with animal villagers would make your time at home so much cozier. Social media is buzzing with reports that these products are “too cute to use” and it’s easy to see why.

Almost everything has the Japanese name ATSUMARE DŌBUTSU NO MORI and features all of your favorite characters. There’s even a coffee mill, coffee dripper, cup, and saucer with Brewster, the adorable pigeon who runs The Roost cafe.

Check out the other products too!

Everywhere you look there is something you’ll want. Nintendo OSAKA is full of surprises. I tried to highlight all the things that caught my eye, and there is so much more.
Choose your favorites from cases of mini erasers shaped like game characters and icons and fill up a bottle to take home. They’re priced by the bottle so seeing how many you can squeeze in feels like a game in itself.

Plus this official store has a full line-up of game software and accessories. Customize your gear with your choice from a variety of Joy-Cons and Joy-Con straps.

Kirby, Kirby everywhere and a fair showing for Metroid items and classic controllers too.

I hope I gave you an idea of what’s in the store, but there is so much I couldn’t fit in here. Some products will make you nostalgic, some will steal your heart with cuteness, and you’ll want to look closely because there’s something different to see in every corner.

■Have a little extra fun! Look for the Capsule Toy machine

Beyond the eye-catching displays and amazing lineup of merchandise, Nintendo OSAKA offers other kinds of fun.
If you use your Nintendo account to do the GPS check-in you’ll get a free sticker. As long as you have an account, you can get one so there’s no reason not to do it. The stickers come in a few different designs and are selected at random. Try collecting them all!
The check-in machines are right near the Mario statue at the entrance so they’re easy to see when you walk in.

Pop ¥500 into the capsule toy machine and get your surprise.

Classic Nintendo controller pieces come in 7 styles. You can see 6 of them on the display, but the 7th one is a secret and I have no idea what it is. Apparently you’re limited to only 5 chances per person, so it’s something fun to look forward to when you visit the store.
There’s another surprise waiting at the check-out.
Show your My Nintendo account QR code and get 1% of your purchase added to your My Nintendo Gold Points. You can then use them on the Nintendo eShop and the official Nintendo website to purchase eligible content and downloadable software. Plus your purchases will be handed over in a bag with one of 4 different designs. The bag I got has Shizue from Animal Crossing.

■Do you need a ticket for the Nintendo store? Is it crowded?

The shop has been open for a few months, but seems to be pretty popular. So you might need a numbered ticket to enter the store, especially if you visit on the weekend.
It’s less crowded than it was, but be aware you may need a ticket to get in. The ticket will tell you what time you are able to enter the store and are handed out on the 1st floor of the Osaka Station City complex near the water clock. It’s essentially right outside the entrance to Daimaru Umeda, where the Nintendo OSAKA store is located.

Entry tickets are limited, so if they do happen to run out when you visit you may be able to enter the store after 5pm. If you have some extra time, it may be easier to plan your visit on a weekday evening. Since it isn’t usually as crowded and you may be able to get in the store quickly and smoothly. I personally visited twice on weekday evenings and didn’t require an entry ticket.
Also, you can find info on the level of congestion in the store and entry tickets on the official ⇒Nintendo Twitter account. (Japanese only)
I was totally impressed with the store. If you’re a Nintendo fan, definitely plan a trip to Nintendo OSAKA. It’s amazing how many creative ways the store has given shape to characters from some of the world’s most beloved games. You can totally lose yourself shopping here!
It’s a little piece of paradise for anyone who loves game culture or the wonderful world of Nintendo.
Game experiences on massive screens and other events are planned for the future. I have a feeling more fun is coming soon. Stop in and see what’s happening!

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