Piranha plants are bobbing out of plumber pipes and widening their teeth-lined jaws. Koopas are dashing to and fro, spinning golden coins are speckled across the hills, and Yoshi is orbiting around a tree.

​

A wave of nostalgia washes over me as I take in this visual spectacle. I am at Super Nintendo World in Osaka. Launched in March 2021, Super Nintendo World is Universal Studios’ first theme park zone dedicated to the realm of video games.

​

As I watch locals donning Mario hats eagerly punching the iconic Nintendo question blocks, I am reminded of Japan’s fondness for theme parks.

​

Several dozen theme parks are sprawled across the country, including global brands, old-school amusement parks and technology-centric ones.

​

During the Covid-19 pandemic, many continued to roll out new launches and updates, just in time for the resurgence of travel...

 

To read the story, please click here to visit The Straits Times. 

​