Nintendo has exciting news for fans in Japan, announcing plans to launch a new official store in Fukuoka at the end of 2025. Named Nintendo Fukuoka, this will be the company's fourth such store in Japan, joining existing locations in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. What sets Nintendo Fukuoka apart is its location on Kyushu, Japan's southernmost main island, marking the first time a Nintendo store will be situated outside of Honshu, the country's largest island.

The announcement of Nintendo Fukuoka on X sparked a wave of positive reactions from Japanese fans, with many expressing congratulations and hopes for more Nintendo stores across Japan. A popular sentiment among commenters was that Sapporo, the largest city on the northern island of Hokkaido, would be the next ideal location for a Nintendo store.

However, not all feedback was positive. Some fans were disappointed that Nintendo seemed to have overlooked Nagoya, the capital of Aichi prefecture and a significant manufacturing hub. As the fourth-largest city in Japan, Nagoya has faced criticism for being perceived as "boring," a notion highlighted in a 2016 survey by the city's own government, where residents ranked their city third in attractiveness after Tokyo and Kyoto. Nagoya's location between Tokyo and Osaka often results in it being skipped by events and tours, a phenomenon known as "Nagoya skipping." This concern was evident in the comments about Nintendo's decision. Recently, Nagoya has been in the spotlight again due to the upcoming opening of a new 17,000-person arena in July, which local officials hope will help combat the "Nagoya skipping" trend (Chukyo TV).

Nintendo Fukuoka will be strategically located in a shopping mall within Hakata Station, Kyushu's largest major railway station. This prime location, connected by bullet train to Honshu and by plane to Fukuoka Airport, will make it easily accessible to residents of surrounding prefectures and the increasing number of inbound tourists, particularly from South Korea, as reported by the Fukuoka Prefectural Government.

Nintendo's official stores are more than just retail spaces; they also serve as hubs for events and hands-on previews of new games. Nintendo Fukuoka is expected to play a significant role in promoting the upcoming Switch 2 and engaging more customers with the latest offerings from Nintendo.

In related news, Nintendo recently expanded its presence in the U.S. by opening its first West Coast store, Nintendo San Francisco. IGN had the opportunity to tour the store and even conducted an interview with Nintendo of America's president, Doug Bowser, to gain more insights into the company's plans.