A Nintendo Pilgrimage [part 4 of 7]: My Unforgettable Week in Kyoto

Touring the Nintendo Museum collection - Let’s Get (Inter)active

After finishing our exploration of first part of the Nintendo Museum, we headed downstairs to the lower level.

This section of the museum is dedicated to interactive exhibits—eight in total:

• Shigureden SP
• Ultra Machine SP
• Ultra Hand SP
• Love Tester SP
• Game & Watch SP
• Zapper & Scope SP
• Big Controller
• Nintendo Classics

Along with the workshops, this is where visitors can get hands-on with Nintendo’s past.

Most of these exhibits include the "SP" label, short for "Special," a nod to enhanced or modernized versions of classic items (much like the Game Boy Advance SP).

The lower level also includes a number of additional displays that complement the product showcase upstairs, adding context to the interactive experiences. Photography is allowed on this floor.

Shigureden SP

At the center of this area is Shigureden SP. The name refers to Shigureden, a museum opened in 2006 by then-Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi in Kyoto’s Arashiyama district, which was centered around Ogura Hyakunin Isshu cards. Like Hanafuda, these are traditional Japanese playing cards and among Nintendo’s oldest products.

The game’s objective is to match card pairs containing fragments of classical poetry faster than your opponent. A card is shown on your handheld screen, and you must find its match on a giant digital display embedded in the floor.

The setup resembles the original Shigureden installation (now closed), although in this version Nintendo DS consoles have been replaced by mobile devices.

Next to Shigureden SP is a large display dedicated to Nintendo’s rich legacy in playing cards.

The exhibit showcases a wide array of designs, shapes, and sizes produced over the decades. The cards are presented in chronological order, from left to right.

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