Nintendo Switch 2 Sees Expanded In-Store Availability Across Japan: Direct Sales Begin at Major Retailers

Nintendo Switch 2 In-Store Sales Expand in Japan as Retailers Shift Strategy The Nintendo Switch 2, the highly anticipated successor to Nintendo’s best-selling hybrid console, is now being sold directly to customers in physical stores across Japan.

As of the week of June 16, 2025, prominent Japanese retail chains such as Tsutaya and Yodobashi Camera have begun offering the Nintendo Switch 2 on a first-come-first-served basis, departing from the pre-order lottery system that has dominated initial sales efforts since the system’s launch. This change in sales approach by Japanese retailers marks a significant shift in the hardware’s availability.

Until recently, high demand for the Nintendo Switch 2 compelled most stores nationwide to utilize a lottery system for pre-orders, allowing only randomly selected customers the opportunity to purchase the device.

The move to direct, in-store sales indicates that the initial rush may be abating or, alternatively, that Nintendo has been able to meet demand with increased inventory. Nintendo Switch 2’s rollout in Japan has been met with tremendous enthusiasm, echoing the company’s history of hardware successes with the original Nintendo Switch, which has sold more than 140 million units globally since its release in 2017.

The direct sales at retail staples such as Tsutaya and Yodobashi Camera provide a new opportunity for consumers who were previously unable to secure a unit due to the limited allocations and lottery-based pre-orders. Reporting from Japanese social media and retail tracking accounts confirms that, as of June 21, 2025, in-store direct sales for the Nintendo Switch 2 are now active at major retail locations including Yodobashi’s Akihabara, Umeda, and Shinjuku branches.

Customers have noted that a black credit card may be required for the purchase, reflecting certain store policies. However, international gamers should be aware that all units currently sold in Japan are Japanese-only models.

These systems come with regional limitations, most notably the inability to use non-Japanese Nintendo Accounts.

This means buyers outside Japan may face obstacles using certain features or accessing the Nintendo eShop from their home region. The latest developments underscore Nintendo’s ongoing efforts to meet consumer demand for the Switch 2 in its home market.

With direct in-store sales now available, more fans in Japan have the opportunity to experience Nintendo’s next-generation hardware.

As the Nintendo Switch 2 continues its rollout, retailers and gamers alike will be closely monitoring inventory and availability in the coming weeks.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Nintendo Japan Switch 2 Switch Japanese retailers Yodobashi Camera retailers Camera console Tsutaya