Nintendo Opens Fukuoka Outlet Amid Mixed Reception

Nintendo has unveiled plans to launch a new official retail location in Fukuoka, Japan by late 2025.

Nintendo Fukuoka will become the company's fourth official Japanese store, joining existing locations in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Notably, this marks Nintendo's first official store outside Japan's main island of Honshu, instead being situated in Fukuoka City on Kyushu, Japan's southernmost major island.

Japanese gaming enthusiasts on X (formerly Twitter) have welcomed the announcement with celebratory messages, with many expressing hopes for nationwide Nintendo store expansion. Numerous users suggested Sapporo - the largest city on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido - as the next logical location for Nintendo to establish a retail presence.

Not all reactions were positive, however. Many expressed disappointment that Nintendo bypassed Nagoya for its next location. As Japan's fourth-largest city and capital of Aichi prefecture, Nagoya struggles with an undeserved reputation for being uninteresting. This perception gained traction in 2016 when Nagoya's own government survey revealed residents ranked their city third in attractiveness behind Tokyo and Kyoto - a rare instance where locals didn't favor their hometown.

Nagoya's central location between Tokyo and Osaka has created a phenomenon locally known as "Nagoya skipping," where events and tours frequently bypass the city. This situation has become such a recognized issue that it's even been referenced in anime like Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki. The city recently made headlines with a new 17,000-capacity arena opening this July, which officials hope will help combat this skipping trend.

The new Nintendo Fukuoka will occupy space in a shopping mall within Hakata Station - Kyushu's largest railway hub with bullet train connections to Honshu and proximity to Fukuoka Airport. This strategic location will make Nintendo merchandise more accessible to residents across southwestern Japan while capitalizing on Fukuoka's growing international tourism, particularly visitors from South Korea.

Beyond selling Switch consoles, games, and exclusive merchandise, Nintendo's official stores serve as event spaces for game previews and promotions. The Fukuoka location will likely play a key role in marketing the anticipated Switch successor console. This expansion follows last week's opening of Nintendo San Francisco - the company's first West Coast U.S. flagship store.