Many of us of a certain age still remember the first time we held a Nintendo Entertainment System controller in our hands, which was our ticket to the colorful world of Super Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong.

If these games were a beautiful part of our childhood, then we should definitely visit the long-awaited Nintendo museum in Japan.

Open to the general public since October 2, the museum is an interactive space, located in an old factory complex of the company in Uji, about an hour from the city of Kyoto.

The new museum spans three entire buildings, taking visitors on a 135-year long history in a foot-tapping exhibition that includes rare consoles and original interactive games and unique experiences, even a themed burger restaurant.

Meet Super Mario’s ‘dad’

Visitors to the museum will have the opportunity to dive into the recesses of the mind of the creator of the popular game hero Super Mario. This is the mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto, who is also called “daddy” of Super Mario.

The mammoth video game company was first founded as Hanafuda (meaning Flower Cards), a Japanese playing card company, in 1889. A museum section called “Craft and Play” is dedicated to these humble beginnings and features a hall Hanafuda where visitors can learn to play the traditional card game with the help of technology and can participate in a workshop to create their own flower cards.

However, the main attraction of the museum is the ‘Discover’ area, a huge room with displays of almost every product the company has ever released, including rare limited edition devices and unreleased prototypes.

Another feature of the Discover building is the collection of eight special interactive games – each representing an iconic creation in the company’s gaming history.

Meanwhile, the “Big Controller” lets players collaborate and play classic Nintendo games, as the name suggests, on oversized controllers designed to look like original consoles like the Wii and Famicom.

Among the mini-games on offer are a laser shooting game called “Zapper & Scope,” a nod to the company’s light gun shooting system developed in 1973, and “Love Tester,” first released in 1969.

Museum visitors are given 10 digital coins that they can use to play the games, but be warned: it’s not possible to buy extra, so players will have to strategize and choose wisely.

Despite its inconspicuous gray facade, the museum is filled with playful details that are uniquely Nintendo, from the multiple toads that will sing when you touch their heads to the cabinets that look like Gameboy cartridges.

The museum’s cafe, Hatena Burger, features Nintendo-themed decor, while the shop sells memorabilia such as longer-lasting controller pads, key chains and Hanafuda.

Not just anyone can visit the museum

One can’t just show up at the door and buy a ticket.

Visitors must go to the museum’s website and register to enter the drawing at least three months in advance. This means travelers can now enter a draw to receive tickets for the visit no earlier than January and can choose up to three preferred dates and times.

Winners are announced two months before their scheduled visit date and tickets must be purchased immediately.

Those unable to register in advance can also try their luck on the museum’s website calendar and look for tickets that have been canceled or added later.

Tickets are ¥3,300 ($23) per adult and ¥2,200 ($15) per child. Some parts of the exhibition charge additional entrance fees.