The Nintendo Museum in Kyoto has become a destination for fans eager to celebrate the company’s long history, but its newest addition makes the experience even more exciting. On September 3, the museum revealed that it has opened a dedicated Art Gallery on the second floor, offering visitors a chance to see rare artwork that never appeared on the front of a game box.
For decades, Nintendo’s box art gave players their very first impression of what awaited them inside. A single cover image could spark curiosity, excitement, and imagination, but it was always just one piece of a much larger collection of designs. Behind the scenes, Nintendo’s artists created countless illustrations during development, many of which never saw the light of day. Now, the Art Gallery finally gives fans a closer look at these hidden treasures.
The museum’s preview image only hints at what’s inside, cleverly blurred and angled to entice fans to visit in person. Even so, sharp eyes can spot several full-color illustrations from the original Legend of Zelda on the Famicom and NES. They appear to be enlarged versions of the artwork from the game’s instruction manual, and possibly even the original drawings. Nintendo confirmed that the gallery will showcase character illustrations and concept art, which suggests that fans will be able to experience the earliest visions of Hyrule as its creators first imagined it.
Zelda isn’t the only series on display. Nintendo also highlighted Super Mario and Animal Crossing as part of the opening, and it is easy to imagine the company rotating its exhibits in the future. With a history stretching across dozens of beloved franchises, the museum holds an archive far larger than any single room could contain. That means future visits may bring completely new artwork tied to anniversaries or upcoming releases.
Anyone hoping to visit should keep in mind that entry is by advance reservation only. The next block of tickets, for December visits, is already open for applications through the official museum website.
For Zelda fans, the thought of seeing original Legend of Zelda art on display is reason enough to plan a trip. It’s a rare opportunity to connect with the roots of the series and to see the drawings that shaped the very beginning of Link’s journey.
