Nintendo's New Store in Fukuoka Sparks Mixed Reactions

Nintendo has exciting news for fans in Japan with the announcement of a new official store set to open in Fukuoka at the end of 2025. Named Nintendo Fukuoka, this will be the company's fourth store in Japan, joining the ranks of Nintendo Tokyo, Nintendo Osaka, and Nintendo Kyoto. What sets Nintendo Fukuoka apart is its unique location on Kyushu, Japan's southernmost main island, marking the first time a Nintendo store will be situated outside of Honshu, the largest main island.

The announcement on X (formerly Twitter) sparked a wave of positive reactions from the Japanese community, with many expressing their congratulations and hopes for more Nintendo stores across the country. Several users even suggested that Sapporo, the largest city on Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, should be the next location for a Nintendo store.

However, the news wasn't met with universal approval. A significant number of commenters expressed disappointment over Nintendo seemingly bypassing Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture and the fourth-largest city in Japan. Nagoya's residents are all too familiar with the "Nagoya Skip" phenomenon, where the city is often overlooked in favor of more popular destinations like Tokyo and Osaka. This sentiment was highlighted in a 2016 survey by Nagoya's government, where locals ranked their city third in attractiveness, behind Tokyo and Kyoto. The city's location between Tokyo and Osaka exacerbates this issue, as many events and tours tend to skip Nagoya altogether. The anime series "Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki" humorously addresses this trend. Recently, Nagoya has been in the spotlight with the upcoming opening of a 17,000-person arena in July, which city officials hope will combat the "Nagoya Skip" trend, as reported by Chukyo TV.

Nintendo Fukuoka will be strategically located within a shopping mall at Hakata Station, Kyushu's largest railway hub. This prime location ensures easy access for residents from surrounding prefectures and inbound tourists, particularly those from South Korea, who have been visiting Fukuoka in increasing numbers since the lifting of pandemic restrictions. The Fukuoka Prefectural Government anticipates this trend to continue growing.

Nintendo's official stores are more than just retail spaces; they are vibrant hubs where fans can purchase Switch consoles, games, accessories, and various Nintendo merchandise. These stores also host events and provide hands-on previews of new titles. With the upcoming release of the Switch 2, Nintendo Fukuoka is poised to play a crucial role in promoting and showcasing the new console to a broader audience.

In other Nintendo news, the company recently opened its first West Coast store in the U.S., Nintendo San Francisco. IGN had the opportunity to tour the store and interview Nintendo of America's president, Doug Bowser, to gain insights into the company's latest endeavors.