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Play giant Tetris on Kyoto Station's 11-storey Grand Staircase this March

For one week only, the 171-step Grand Staircase at Kyoto Station will become a massive screen for you to play Tetris

Lim Chee Wah
Written by
Lim Chee Wah
Contributing Editor, Time Out Osaka
The Grand Staircase at Kyoto Station
Photo: Blanscape/Dreamstime | Kyoto Station's Grand Staircase during a past illumination event
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Tetris is one of the most iconic video games ever invented, and many of us have probably spent one too many hours in our childhood stacking those falling blocks on our computer or TV screens. Well, you can soon relive that nostalgia in Kyoto – this time in a larger-than-life format.

Kyoto Grand Staircase Tetris
Photo: Kyoto Grand Staircase Tetris

For just one week from March 19–25, two icons come together to present a unique, mind-blowing experience. One of Kyoto’s most distinguished landmarks, Kyoto Station, designed by visionary architect Hiroshi Hara, features a massive stairway that rises 171 steps from the 4th floor up to the 15th-floor Sky Garden.

This jaw-dropping, 35-metre-high Grand Staircase will be transformed into a gigantic Tetris screen. This is no mere projection mapping, though; it’s a playable game of Tetris and everyone is invited.

Kyoto Grand Staircase Tetris
Photo: Kyoto Grand Staircase Tetris

Using a dedicated controller, participants can play Tetris on the Grand Staircase. There are single- and two-player modes, along with three difficulty levels: easy, normal and hard.

Be ready to bring your A-game, though. To add a competitive edge to the experience, the venue will feature a scoreboard displaying the top players. There will also be photo spots, so you can capture proof that you played Tetris on one of Kyoto’s most spectacular landmarks.

The Kyoto Grand Staircase Tetris at Kyoto Station runs nightly from March 19 to March 25, 6pm to 10pm (registration closes at 9pm). Participation costs ¥500 per game (cashless payment only).

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