Nintendo's New Fukuoka Store 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 official store in the country, following the successful launches of Nintendo Tokyo, Nintendo Osaka, and Nintendo Kyoto. What sets Nintendo Fukuoka apart is its location on Kyushu, Japan's southernmost main island, marking the first time Nintendo has ventured off Honshu, the country's largest island.

The announcement was met with enthusiasm on X, where many Japanese users expressed their congratulations and hopes for more Nintendo stores across Japan. Some suggested that Sapporo, the largest city on Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, might be the next ideal location for a Nintendo store.

However, not all reactions were positive. A significant number of commenters expressed disappointment that Nagoya, the fourth largest city in Japan and a major manufacturing hub, was overlooked. Nagoya, located in central Japan, has often been bypassed by events and tours due to its unfortunate placement between Tokyo and Osaka, a trend known as the "Nagoya Skip." This perception was further highlighted in a 2016 survey by Nagoya's government, where local residents ranked their city third in attractiveness behind Tokyo and Kyoto, unlike residents of other cities who ranked their own cities first.

The sentiment of being skipped over is particularly poignant in Nagoya, especially with the recent news of a new 17,000-person arena set to open in July, which local officials and media hope will counteract the "Nagoya skipping" phenomenon (source: Chukyo TV).

On a brighter note, Nintendo Fukuoka will be strategically located within a shopping mall at Hakata Station, Kyushu's largest railway hub. This prime location offers excellent connectivity via bullet train to Honshu and flights to Fukuoka Airport, making it easily accessible for residents of surrounding prefectures and the increasing number of inbound tourists, especially from South Korea, following the lifting of pandemic restrictions (source: Fukuoka Prefectural Government).

Nintendo's official stores are more than just retail spaces; they are vibrant hubs where fans can purchase Switch consoles, games, accessories, and a wide range of Nintendo merchandise. Additionally, these stores host events and offer hands-on previews of new titles. Nintendo Fukuoka is expected to play a key role in promoting the upcoming Switch 2, providing an exciting opportunity for more customers to experience Nintendo's latest innovations firsthand.

In other Nintendo news, the company recently opened its first West Coast store in the U.S., Nintendo San Francisco. IGN provided a tour of the store and an interview with Nintendo of America's president, Doug Bowser, offering insights into the company's retail strategy and future plans.