Nintendo has exciting news for fans in Japan, announcing the opening of its fourth official store, Nintendo Fukuoka, slated for the end of 2025. This new addition will join the existing stores in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, but marks a significant expansion as it will be the first located off the main island of Honshu, situated instead in Fukuoka City on Kyushu, Japan's southernmost main island.

The announcement on X sparked a wave of positive reactions from the Japanese community, with many expressing their congratulations and hopes for more Nintendo stores across the country. There was a notable call for a store in Sapporo, the largest city on Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, suggesting it as the next ideal location.

However, not all feedback was positive. A significant number of comments expressed disappointment over Nintendo seemingly bypassing Nagoya, Japan's fourth-largest city and a major manufacturing hub in central Japan. Nagoya has long been subject to a "boring" stereotype, highlighted by a 2016 survey conducted by its own government, where residents ranked their city third in attractiveness behind Tokyo and Kyoto. Positioned between Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya often gets skipped over in events and tours, a phenomenon known as the "Nagoya Skip." This sentiment was further emphasized by the recent news of a new 17,000-person arena set to open in Nagoya in July, with local officials and media hoping it will help combat the "Nagoya skipping" trend, as reported by Chukyo TV.

Nintendo Fukuoka will be strategically located within a shopping mall at Hakata Station, Kyushu's largest railway hub, which offers easy access via bullet train to Honshu and flights to Fukuoka Airport. This prime location will make it more convenient for residents of surrounding prefectures to visit. Additionally, with the lifting of pandemic restrictions, Fukuoka has seen a surge in inbound tourism, particularly from South Korea, and this trend is expected to continue, according to the 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 merchandise. These stores also host events and hands-on previews of new titles. With the upcoming launch of the Switch 2, Nintendo Fukuoka is poised to play a crucial role in promoting and introducing this new console to a broader audience.

In related news, Nintendo recently opened its first West Coast store in the U.S., Nintendo San Francisco, where IGN conducted a tour and interviewed Nintendo of America's president, Doug Bowser, to learn more about the store's offerings and impact.