Nintendo has announced plans to open a new official store in Fukuoka, Japan by late 2025.
Nintendo Fukuoka will become the company's fourth retail location in Japan, joining existing stores in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Notably, this marks Nintendo's first venture outside Japan's main island of Honshu, with Fukuoka City located on Kyushu, the country's southernmost major island.
Japanese fans reacted enthusiastically to the announcement on social media, with many celebrating the news while expressing hopes for nationwide Nintendo store expansions. Numerous commenters suggested Sapporo - the largest city on northern Hokkaido island - as the probable next location.
However, the announcement sparked disappointment among residents of Nagoya, Japan's fourth-largest city located in central Aichi Prefecture. Nagoya's unflattering reputation as "boring" gained particular attention following a revealing 2016 survey where even local residents ranked it below Tokyo and Kyoto as a travel destination.
The city faces an ongoing challenge dubbed "Nagoya skipping," where major events and tours frequently bypass the region between Tokyo and Osaka. This phenomenon became widely recognized through anime series like Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki, with local officials hoping the new July 2024 arena opening might reverse this trend.
The new Nintendo Fukuoka will occupy prime retail space within Hakata Station - Kyushu's largest transportation hub connecting to Honshu via bullet train and offering direct access to Fukuoka Airport. This strategic location will serve both local customers and increasing international visitors, particularly from nearby South Korea.
Beyond selling consoles, games and exclusive merchandise, Nintendo's flagship stores typically host gaming events and product demonstrations. Analysts suggest the Fukuoka location may play a key role in promoting Nintendo's next-generation Switch console expected to launch in 2025.
The expansion follows Nintendo's recent U.S. retail growth, including last week's opening of Nintendo San Francisco - the company's first West Coast store which has already garnered significant media attention.
