[1 Night] Experience Nintendo History and the Legendary Architecture of Tadao Ando at Kyoto’s Marufukuro Hotel

The Former Nintendo HQ in a Nostalgic Neighborhood along the Kamo River

Nintendo is emblematic of Japan, and a household name around the world. This global giant was actually founded in Kagiyacho, within walking distance of Kyoto station – an area near the Kamo River that still retains a traditional townscape and nostalgic atmosphere replete with old buildings.

The Kamo River is a symbolic Kyoto landmark

An easy walk from Kyoto station, Kagiyacho is also a natural sightseeing hub, sitting as it does near the temple garden of Shosei-en – annex of Higashi Hoganji Temple – as well as Sanjusangendo temple and the Kyoto National Museum. In recent years, new restaurants and accommodations have sprung up here, breathing new life into the area.

A Hotel Converted from a Nearly Century-Old Art Deco Building

Nintendo’s former headquarters was completed in 1930, followed by warehouses and company residences. Built in the Art Deco style popular in the early Showa period (1926-1989), the buildings draw on straight lines, geometric motifs, and striking colors. After serving as Nintendo’s HQ for two decades, this office was shuttered due to the company relocating. Though subsequently closed to the public for a time, it has long been revered as a holy place for fans of the company’s work.

Marufukuro’s distinguished facade, in the middle of its old-timey townscape

In 1889, Nintendo founder Fusajiro Yamauchi set up shop in a small building in Kagiyacho manufacturing and selling hanafuda playing cards. Despite the area’s evolution over the ages – close as it is to Kyoto station and the bustling Shijo area – the Yamauchi family has remained present ever since, protecting the Nintendo identity that was born here. Fifth generation head of the family Banjo Yamauchi has devoted himself to revitalizing the area, including renovating the former HQ and its residences into a hotel to give the public access and preserve the area’s historical legacy.

Kagiyacho is a place of fond memories for the family of Nintendo’s founder

So it was that this historic building – known as “Marufuku” at the time of its founding – reopened in April 2022 as the Marufukuro hotel, revived as a modern hotel with four wings: the three original Nintendo buildings along with a new structure designed by and constructed under the legendary architect Tadao Ando. This Wabunka exclusive experience offers the chance to not only stay at this hotel brimming with historic charm, but to tour it and hear from its staff all about the philosophy of the founder and his family. 

The Superior King Room offered in this plan

Nintendo History and Ando Architecture in Amalgam

When it was headquartered in this building, Nintendo was primarily a manufacturer and seller of hanafuda, karuta, and other playing cards. In homage to this history, the former office, former residences, former warehouse, and the Ando-designed fourth wing are respectively referred to as the Spade, Heart, Clover, and Diamond Wings of the Marufukuro Hotel.

The former Art Deco office, filled with eye-catching geometric motifs and striking colors

The Spade wing greets visitors with an arresting beauty of design immediately upon entry, and draws the eye in even further with captivating Art Deco details on the walls, floors, glass, and tiles. The founder’s family had the building renovated with an emphasis on maximal preservation, and the result is a veritable portal to a past age. 

Carta, the restaurant inside the Clover wing

Still, Marufukuro’s charm goes beyond mere nostalgia, with the nearly century-old original Art Deco buildings complemented by a new wing designed by the celebrated architect Tadao Ando. Ando was so taken by the existing structures when he visited during the planning stages of the renovation that he ended up supervising the entire renovation.

The Green Apple painting that often shows up in Ando’s buildings

Many of the eighteen unique guest rooms of Marufukuro draw on the moss green color of the old Nintendo HQ as a motif, harkening back to the romance of those early days. Ando’s new wing is bright and spacious, drawing on natural light and his signature use of sweeping windows set into exposed concrete. This exclusive Wabunka plan includes a guided tour all around the various wings, though access to the various guest rooms depends on their reservation status on the day of your visit.

The Japanese Suite guest rooms in the original buildings maintain the tatami room style from the original construction (not the room type featured in this plan)

A Tour Plumbing the Secrets of Marufukuro’s Inception

In the tour, staff guide Wabunka visitors not only around the original and new wings of the hotel, but also into Nintendo’s very history, unraveling the story of the hotel’s inception. Get hands-on with this history in “dNa,” the library room curated by the Yamauchi family themselves. In addition to the books and digital art pieces related to the hanafuda cards on which the company built its business, classic products like the first-generation Famicom (known in much of the Western world as the NES) and Game Boy are also on display. The library is an impressive window into Nintendo’s origins and founding philosophy.

“dNa,” the library room where visitors can learn about Nintendo’s full history

Also noteworthy are the various original interior fixtures and equipment (such as the elevators), preserved and incorporated into the renovated design. Old hanafuda cards, keys, and ledgers are transformed into display pieces, giving the hotel the feeling of a living museum. True to its Art Deco roots, the building is rife with more delightful details and marvelous minutiae than anyone could spot in a mere two days.

The guest lounge in the original building, once a reception room

Just off the library is a bar counter for having a drink as you peruse the books. Enjoy a wide selection of liquors including the whiskey and gin that the founder favored, with a self-service approach that allows you to freely fix your own tipples. The original building also features a reception room turned guest lounge that still retains the interior design and furnishing from the old Nintendo HQ, offering another place to bask in the company’s living history. The new wing offers a dining lounge decorated with architect Ando’s own artwork where staying guests can enjoy light meals and drinks. Each space offers its own unique charm for you to enjoy to your liking.

Discover the Philosophy of Nintendo in Total Comfort

Historic architecture aside, the exquisite preservation of this building is a reflection of the deep feelings that the Yamauchi family and the people of Kyoto hold for it. Fans have been known to bring old photos in with them – a reflection of just how much the company has touched people’s lives.

Nintendo began its life as a manufacturer of hanafuda playing cards

Although there is no shortage of modernist architecture in Kyoto, rare is the chance to stay in such a building. Marufukuro is a truly one-of-a-kind hotel fusing old with new, preserving the original elegance of the Art Deco former Nintendo HQ with a touch of enlivening modern style. Create wonderful memories of exploration and immersion here while discovering the playful spirit of the Yamauchi family imbued in every little detail.

The Superior King room was once used as a guest quarters, and retains its fireplace from the original design