These Real-life Nintendo Destinations Bring Super Mario to Life

With The Super Mario Galaxy Movie now playing in theaters across the U.S., there’s no better time to let Nintendo’s most beloved video game stars inspire your next vacation.

Point your game controller toward these real-life locations, from officially licensed stores with exclusive merchandise and immersive experiences to a museum in a historic Nintendo factory. And of course, there are entire Super Nintendo Worlds at a trio of Universal theme parks—including the newest and biggest version that opened in Orlando last May.

So, as Mario would say, “let’s-a go” celebrate the release of the new animated film by traveling the real world in search of power stars at these Nintendo landmarks.

Nintendo Museum—Uji, Japan

Ever since it opened in October 2024, the Nintendo Museum has become the ultimate destination for video game fans. Built in the company’s former Uji Ogura Plant, about 13 miles south of Kyoto City, the exhibits trace the origins of the company from 1889, when it started by making flower playing cards called hanafuda. Throughout three buildings, guests can make their own hanafuda in the Craft & Play exhibit and step into other immersive exhibits. The highlight for gamers is the Discover area, where you can see every Nintendo release on display.

The only hurdle? Demand for visits is so high that tickets are only sold via a randomly selected drawing. The museum is currently accepting entries for July 2026 tickets. Visit its official website for updates.

Nintendo New York—New York, New York

Originally opened as the Pokémon Center New York in 2001, Nintendo New York is now a 10,000-square-foot superstore spread across two floors in Rockefeller Center. In addition to hundreds of themed products—including exclusive collections—the latest Nintendo Switch games are available for test runs. “Our ambassadors are enthusiastic Nintendo fans and happy to share their knowledge with you,” the store says on its site. That includes helping with game demos as well as providing a history of its displays. The store also hosts official events, like its recent Mario Day events.

Nintendo San Francisco—San Francisco, California

Just last May, Mario himself helped cut the ribbon to open the second official U.S. Nintendo store in San Francisco’s Union Square. Like its New York counterpart, there’s exclusive branded merch and products with characters from games ranging from Legend of Zelda and Splatoon to Animal Crossing and Pokémon, as well as the opportunity to play Nintendo Switch games. And, of course, there are plenty of photo opportunities throughout the Powell Street shop.

Nintendo Stores in Japan—Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Fukuoka, Japan

For a Japanese company that’s more than a century old, it’s surprising that its first official store just opened in Tokyo in 2019, with a 3,000-square-foot space on the sixth floor of the Shibuya Parco shopping complex. That location’s success kicked off a string of openings, with a nearly 8,600-square-foot Osaka outpost on Daimaru Umeda Department Store’s 13th floor, which opened in 2022, followed by a Kyoto location on the rooftop of the Takashimaya Kyoto shopping center in 2023. The most recent location is its biggest yet, taking up more than 10,700 square feet of Fukuoka’s JR Hakata City Amu Plaza’s eighth floor in November 2025.

Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan—Osaka, Japan

As the first to debut back in 2021, the Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan just kicked off its 5th anniversary celebration on March 18, featuring exclusive meet-ups, decorations, merchandise, and food. The festivities will run through Jan. 11, 2027, so you still have plenty of time to plan a trip. Centered around the storyline of Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, and Yoshi baking a cake together, Super Stars explode everywhere so “things are glowing with invincible, colorful energy, sending everyone’s excitement to a whole new level,” according to the park’s site.

Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood—Universal City, California

The Hollywood spotlight shines on the Nintendo stars who found a permanent home on Universal Studios Hollywood’s Lower Lot in 2023. Despite being the most compact Super Nintendo World location, this one still packs a punch with its starring attraction, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, as well as a location of Toadstool Cafe. To celebrate the new film, there will be limited-time events through April 13, including meet-and-greets, photo opportunities, and themed merchandise and food, like galaxy popcorn and Rosalina cupcakes. You can also stop by the Upper Lot’s Power Up Cafe, which opened in 2024.

Super Nintendo World at Universal Epic Universe—Orlando, Florida

The newest major theme park to open in the U.S. in two decades also has an entire world dedicated to the video game franchise—and this one’s truly epic. Divided into two sections, there’s Super Mario Land with Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and Yoshi’s Adventure, plus Donkey Kong Country with Mine-Cart Madness. Throughout both sections, there are character encounters and eateries and plenty of spots to power up with your Power-Up Band. Like its California counterpart, the Florida location will also be celebrating the new movie with limited-time activations through April 13.