Shigeru Miyamoto Spots in Japan

Shigeru Miyamoto is a renowned Japanese game creator and one of Nintendo’s most iconic game producers. He was born on November 16, 1952, and after graduating from Kanazawa College of Art, he joined Nintendo in 1977.

At Nintendo, he worked on arcade game development and created Donkey Kong in 1981, which became a major hit and marked the beginning of his career in game development.

In 1985, he directed Super Mario Bros., achieving global success. He also created The Legend of Zelda, helping establish Nintendo’s unique game culture.

Since the 2000s, he has served as a director and senior managing director of Nintendo, and he currently acts as Representative Director and Fellow, providing creative leadership.

[SPOTS]

Around the Tenbiki Tunnel

この投稿をInstagramで見る

旅のふぁくとりー(@tabinofactory_kobayashi)がシェアした投稿

This is the place where world-renowned game creator Shigeru Miyamoto was born and raised.

The natural scenery here is said to be the origin of the “joy of exploration” that lies at the core of the games he creates. Miyamoto has often spoken about how, during his childhood, he ran through the surrounding mountains and fields, wandered along untrodden paths, and once stumbled upon a cave by chance.

The excitement he felt when exploring the cave with a lantern in hand—fear mixed with thrill—and the joy of discovering something new later became the foundation for the game design of The Legend of Zelda. Elements such as the fun of finding hidden caves and exploring vast fields down to the smallest detail stem from these childhood experiences.

Although no specific cave has been developed as a tourist site, the natural landscapes of Nantan City themselves serve as the wellspring of Miyamoto’s creativity, making this a place where one can feel the roots of his imaginative worlds.

MAP:

この投稿をInstagramで見る

任天堂(@nintendo_jp)がシェアした投稿

This themed area recreates Nintendo’s game worlds in real life and is a project in which Shigeru Miyamoto was deeply involved as the final creative supervisor.

In this grand undertaking—bringing the world of video games into physical space—Miyamoto pursued an uncompromising dedication to crafting a distinctly “Nintendo-like experience,” from the overall concept of the area down to the smallest details of each attraction.

As the “father of Mario,” he filled the entire area with interactive play elements that allow visitors to jump like Mario, hit blocks, and collect coins—experiences anyone can enjoy in an active and intuitive way. It stands as a new milestone in Miyamoto’s career, where the world of games leaps into reality and creates an entirely new form of entertainment.

MAP: