When is the Zelda light-up at the Nintendo Museum?

From November 5, 2026 to May 5, 2027, lit 17:00–20:00 every day the museum is open (it is closed on Tuesdays, among other days).

Can I see the light-up without a ticket?

No. The museum says the light-up can only be seen by ticket holders.

Can I buy a ticket on the day?

No. There are no same-day tickets; all tickets are booked in advance on the official ticket site, mostly by lottery.

If I enter around midday, can I stay until the lights come on?

Yes. There is no limit on how long you stay during opening hours, although a limit may apply when it is crowded.

How much are tickets?

Adults (18+) 3,300 yen, junior high and high school students 2,200 yen, elementary school students 1,100 yen, preschool children free (tax included).

About 5 minutes on foot from the east exit of Ogura Station (Kintetsu Kyoto Line) or about 8 minutes from the north exit of JR Ogura Station (JR Nara Line). Visitors must use public transport; taxis and cars are not allowed.

Nintendo Museum Zelda 40th Light-Up: Hours and Tickets

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Key takeawaysThe Nintendo Museum in Uji, Kyoto lights up its lawn in gold, green and blue for The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary, from 17:00 to 20:00 on each open day between November 5, 2026 and May 5, 2027. Only ticket holders can see it, and tickets are sold mainly by lottery with no same-day sales, so an afternoon slot is the safest way to stay for the switch-on.

The Nintendo Museum in Uji, Kyoto has switched on a limited-time light-up for The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary. The lights run from 17:00 to 20:00 every day from November 5, 2026 until May 5, 2027.

The catch: only visitors with a museum ticket can see it. Tickets are sold by lottery and there are no same-day tickets, so if the lights are the reason you’re going, you need to apply for a day and time slot that lets you stay into the evening. Below are the dates and hours, what the official video shows, how to get tickets, the other 40th-anniversary features inside the museum, and how to get there.

Nintendo Museum ticket site (official)

A large tree with a face lit up in green lights at the Nintendo Museum — A big tree with a face in its trunk is lit up too, instantly recalling the Great Deku Tree. Image: Nintendo Museum official website

According to the museum, the light-up is inside the facility and can only be viewed by ticket holders.

Zelda 40th light-up: dates, hours and key details

The light-up runs from early winter through the last day of Golden Week. The museum closes at 20:00, so the lights are on for the final three hours of each day.

Event	The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary limited-time light-up
Dates	Thursday, November 5, 2026 – Wednesday, May 5, 2027
Lighting hours	17:00–20:00
Venue	Nintendo Museum (56 Kaguraden, Ogura-cho, Uji, Kyoto)
Who can see it	Ticket holders only
Opening hours	10:00–20:00
Closed	Tuesdays (open if a Tuesday is a national holiday, then closed the following Wednesday) and Dec 30 – Jan 3
Admission (tax incl.)	Adults (18+) 3,300 yen / junior high & high school 2,200 yen / elementary 1,100 yen / preschool free
Tickets	Apply on the official ticket site (lottery). Nintendo Account required; no same-day tickets

Check the Nintendo Museum’s official notice for the latest details; the museum notes that features may change or end without notice.

The official video: the same lawn turns gold, green and blue

On the first night, the museum’s official X account posted a video of about 50 seconds. The same sloping lawn shifts from warm gold to green and white, then to a sheet of blue, and each section is captioned with a Zelda track: “Chamber of the Sages”, “Hyrule Field Main Theme” and “Great Fairy’s Fountain”. If you’ve played the series, you may hear the music just by looking at the colours.

[Notice] Starting today, the Nintendo Museum will be illuminated with special lighting to mark the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda.
Watch the official video on X

Gold: the entrance sign and a Triforce on the lawn

Around the “Nintendo MUSEUM” sign at the entrance, the trees and hedges are covered in warm lights, and a glowing Triforce sits in the middle of the lawn.

The Nintendo Museum entrance sign surrounded by lit trees — Lights around the entrance sign. Image: still from the Nintendo Museum’s official video on X

A glowing Triforce on the lawn among gold lights — The Triforce on the lawn. Image: still from the Nintendo Museum’s official video on X

Green and white: a carpet of light

For the “Hyrule Field Main Theme” section, the lawn and both sides of the path switch to green and white, noticeably brighter than the gold scene.

A lawn slope glowing green and white — Green and white on the slope. Image: still from the Nintendo Museum’s official video on X

Green lights spreading along both sides of a path — Green along the path. Image: still from the Nintendo Museum’s official video on X

Blue: the “Great Fairy’s Fountain” section

The last colour is blue. The official photo shows lit trees and a glowing blue lawn, and from above, the shape of the courtyard is traced out in light.

The Nintendo Museum courtyard with lit trees and a blue glowing lawn — Lit trees and the blue lawn. Image: Nintendo Museum official website

A lawn glowing blue — A sea of blue. Image: still from the Nintendo Museum’s official video on X

The courtyard light-up seen from above — The courtyard from above. Image: still from the Nintendo Museum’s official video on X

How to get a ticket for the light-up

All tickets are booked on the official ticket site. There are no same-day tickets, and most are sold by lottery.

You need a Nintendo Account (free). Book under the name of the person who will visit; ID is checked on the day.
Results arrive by email and on your ticket-site page, and you only pay if you win (credit card only).
As of November 6, the lottery for February 2027 is open until 23:59 on Monday, November 30.
If a lottery doesn’t fill up, or winners cancel, the remaining tickets go on sale first-come, first-served. The timing of those sales is not announced in advance.

Mind the time slot as well. You can’t enter before the time on your ticket; if transport delays make you late, you can still enter until 30 minutes before closing. There is no limit on how long you stay during opening hours (though one may apply when crowded), so the safest plan is an afternoon slot: take your time in the exhibits and stay for the 17:00 switch-on.

From March the days get longer, and the sky is still light when the lights come on at 17:00. If you want to see them after dark in spring, plan to stay until near closing time.

Go to the official ticket site

Other Zelda 40th anniversary features inside the museum

Master Sword photo spot (from November 5, limited time)

A photo spot themed on the Master Sword stands in the area to the left as you face the “Bonus Stage” shop.

Limited-time photo spot themed on the Master Sword — The Master Sword photo spot. Image: Nintendo Museum official X account

Zelda 40th Anniversary History Board

You’ll find it in the corridor after the exhibition area on the first floor of Exhibition Building 1. Scan the artwork from each game with the camera in the Nintendo Today! app to look back on gameplay scenes and music, along with how old you were at the time (based on your Nintendo Account details).

Official Book Vol.02 (1,980 yen)

On sale since November 5 at the Art Gallery on the second floor of Exhibition Building 1, it includes a Zelda 40th anniversary feature and costs 1,980 yen including tax. There are Japanese and English editions, limited to one copy per person (either language). It’s only sold at the museum, and payment is cashless only.

Front and back covers of the Nintendo Museum Official Book Vol.02 — Official Book Vol.02. Image: Nintendo Museum official website

Zelda-design admission pass

For about a year from September 9, 2026, you can choose your admission pass design: the special Zelda 40th anniversary design or your own Mii. The Zelda design is the default; if you’ve already switched to Mii and want the Zelda one, change it on the ticket site before your visit.

The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary special-design admission pass — The special 40th anniversary admission pass. Image: Nintendo Museum official website

Access and museum rules

About 5 minutes on foot from the east exit of Ogura Station (Kintetsu Kyoto Line)
About 8 minutes on foot from the north exit of JR Ogura Station (JR Nara Line)
Use public transport. Taxis, private cars, motorbikes and bicycles are not allowed.
Free coin lockers are near the entrance; suitcases and other large bags can’t be taken inside.

You can check the location on the map. On photography: the hands-on area of Exhibition Building 1 allows photos, but the exhibition area does not. Selfie sticks are banned, and tripods and other large equipment can’t be brought in. Costumes (cosplay) aren’t allowed, and children of elementary school age or younger must be accompanied by someone 18 or older.

If you’d like autumn leaves at night on the same Kyoto trip, see the Chishaku-in autumn light-up. Coming from Tokyo by Shinkansen? Check the EX Hayatoku sale for discounted fares first.

FAQ

When is the Zelda light-up at the Nintendo Museum?: From November 5, 2026 to May 5, 2027, lit 17:00–20:00 every day the museum is open (it is closed on Tuesdays, among other days).
Can I see the light-up without a ticket?: No. The museum says the light-up can only be seen by ticket holders.
Can I buy a ticket on the day?: No. There are no same-day tickets; all tickets are booked in advance on the official ticket site, mostly by lottery.
If I enter around midday, can I stay until the lights come on?: Yes. There is no limit on how long you stay during opening hours, although a limit may apply when it is crowded.
How much are tickets?: Adults (18+) 3,300 yen, junior high and high school students 2,200 yen, elementary school students 1,100 yen, preschool children free (tax included).
How do I get there?: About 5 minutes on foot from the east exit of Ogura Station (Kintetsu Kyoto Line) or about 8 minutes from the north exit of JR Ogura Station (JR Nara Line). Visitors must use public transport; taxis and cars are not allowed.

This article is based on the Nintendo Museum’s official website, official X account and FAQ as checked on November 6, 2026. Details may change, so please check the official notice before you go.