Final Fantasy X celebrated its 25th anniversary on July 19, 2026.

To mark the occasion, special Square Enix pop-up stores are being held at Daimaru department stores in Tokyo and Osaka, offering Final Fantasy X merchandise, anniversary artwork, character displays, and items from other popular Square Enix franchises.

As someone who first played Final Fantasy X on the PlayStation 2 and later completed it again on the Nintendo Switch, I could not miss the opportunity to visit the Tokyo store.

Final Fantasy X is more than just an old game that I remember fondly.

It was the first video game that ever made me cry.

Even after playing it more than once and already knowing how the story ends, its music, characters, and emotional moments still affect me. Hearing the opening notes of “To Zanarkand” is often enough to bring back memories of Tidus, Yuna, and their journey across Spira.

In this article, I will introduce the Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary Square Enix Pop-Up Store, explain how to reach the Tokyo and Osaka locations, and share why Final Fantasy X is still worth playing in 2026.

I will avoid major story spoilers throughout the article.

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary Pop-Up Store in Japan

The Final Fantasy X anniversary pop-up is part of a limited-time Square Enix store being held at Daimaru Tokyo and Daimaru Shinsaibashi in Osaka.

The stores sell Final Fantasy X goods alongside merchandise and music products from other Square Enix franchises, including Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts. The venues also feature Final Fantasy X 25th-anniversary artwork and small character panels.

This is important to understand before visiting: it is primarily a merchandise pop-up store, not a large museum or full-scale Final Fantasy X exhibition.

You should not expect several floors of original concept art, development documents, costumes, and interactive attractions. Instead, think of it as a convenient place to shop for anniversary merchandise, see special decorations, take photographs, and celebrate the game with other fans.

For international visitors, the Tokyo location is particularly easy to add to a sightseeing itinerary because Daimaru Tokyo is directly connected to Tokyo Station.

You can visit the shop before catching a Shinkansen, after arriving in Tokyo, or while exploring the Marunouchi and Nihonbashi areas.

『ファイナルファンタジーX』25周年記念特設ページ公開のお知らせ | FFX25th ニュース | ファイナルファンタジーポータルサイト | SQUARE ENIX

2001年7月19日の発売から25周年を迎える『ファイナルファンタジーX』につきまして、本日25周年記念特設ページを公開し、ティーダやユウナたちパーティキャラクターのぬいぐるみや、アナログレコードをはじめとする音楽商品、ビジュアルアートブッ…

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My Visit to the Tokyo Pop-Up Store

I visited the pop-up store at Daimaru Tokyo shortly after it opened.

Seeing Final Fantasy X celebrated in a major department store 25 years after its original release felt surprisingly emotional.

When I first played the game on the PlayStation 2, I never imagined that people would still be talking about Tidus and Yuna decades later—or that I would be standing inside a 25th-anniversary store in Tokyo, looking at new merchandise inspired by the same characters.

The shop included Final Fantasy X goods as well as merchandise from other Square Enix titles.

The anniversary artwork and character decorations helped give the space a celebratory atmosphere, although the main purpose of the venue was clearly shopping rather than viewing an extensive exhibition.

I also appreciated that photography was allowed in the areas I visited. That made it possible to preserve the experience and share it with people who were unable to visit Japan during the event.

A large number of the smaller character items used random or blind packaging. This can be exciting if you enjoy not knowing which character you will receive, although it may be frustrating if you are searching for one specific character.

I decided not to buy several copies of the same blind item. Fortunately, I received characters that I was happy with, including Yuna and Auron-related goods.

There was also a purchase bonus involving a randomly selected character coaster. Mine featured Lulu.

For longtime fans, this kind of merchandise can be difficult to resist. Final Fantasy X has an especially memorable group of party members, and almost every fan has a favorite.

Just remember that stock is limited. Square Enix and Daimaru warn that products may sell out and that the available lineup can change without notice.

Is the Tokyo Final Fantasy X Pop-Up Store Worth Visiting?

For a Final Fantasy X fan who is already in Tokyo, I believe it is worth visiting.

Its greatest advantage is its location.

Daimaru Tokyo is immediately outside the JR Tokyo Station Yaesu North Exit, making it one of the easiest anime or video game shopping stops to include in a Tokyo itinerary.

You do not need to travel to a distant exhibition center or plan half a day around the event. You can simply stop by while using Tokyo Station.

I particularly recommend visiting if you:

• Love Final Fantasy X and want anniversary merchandise
• Are looking for Japanese Square Enix goods
• Will already be passing through Tokyo Station
• Enjoy collecting character items
• Want to see how Japan is celebrating the game’s 25th anniversary

However, you may be disappointed if you are expecting a large museum-like experience.

The venue is best described as a special anniversary shop with decorations and photo opportunities, rather than a comprehensive exhibition about the development and history of Final Fantasy X.

Because of that, it can work well as one stop on a larger day in Tokyo. You could combine it with shopping around Tokyo Station, a walk through Marunouchi, a visit to the Imperial Palace area, or a trip to nearby Nihonbashi.

Tokyo Location, Dates, Hours, and Access

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary Square Enix Pop-Up Store — Tokyo

Venue: Daimaru Tokyo, 11th-floor event space
Address: 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Dates: July 17 to August 3, 2026
Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Final day: The store is scheduled to close at 6:00 p.m.

The Tokyo store is directly connected to JR Tokyo Station.

The easiest route is:

1. Follow signs for the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station.
2. Exit through the Yaesu North Exit.
3. Daimaru Tokyo is immediately outside the ticket gates.
4. Take an elevator or escalator to the 11th-floor event space.

Daimaru states that the store is directly outside the JR Tokyo Station Yaesu North Exit.

Tokyo Station is extremely large, so do not simply follow signs marked “Marunouchi.” Marunouchi is on the opposite side of the station from Daimaru.

Look specifically for signs saying:

• Yaesu North Exit
• Daimaru
• North Exit

International travelers arriving by Shinkansen can also reach the store without leaving the Tokyo Station complex.

Osaka Location, Dates, Hours, and Access

Final Fantasy X 25th Anniversary Square Enix Pop-Up Store — Osaka

Venue: Daimaru Shinsaibashi Main Building, 9th-floor event space
Address: 1-7-1 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward, Osaka
Dates: July 3 to August 30, 2026
Opening hours: Generally 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Osaka event runs considerably longer than the Tokyo event, making it a useful option for travelers visiting Japan later in August. The official Daimaru listing identifies the venue as the event space on the ninth floor of the Main Building.

Daimaru Shinsaibashi is directly connected to Shinsaibashi Station by an underground passage.

The simplest route is:

1. Take the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line or Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line to Shinsaibashi Station.
2. Follow signs for the South Gate and Daimaru Shinsaibashi.
3. Use the underground passage connected directly to the department store.
4. Go to the ninth floor of the Main Building.

The department store’s English visitor information confirms that it is directly connected to Shinsaibashi Station through an underground walkway.

From major Osaka transportation hubs:

• From Namba Station, Shinsaibashi is one stop away on the Midosuji Line.
• From Umeda, take the Midosuji Line directly to Shinsaibashi.
• From Shin-Osaka Station, the Midosuji Line also provides a direct route to Shinsaibashi.

The store is also close to Dotonbori and the main Shinsaibashi shopping district, so it is easy to combine with a day of shopping and sightseeing in central Osaka.

As at the Tokyo location, merchandise is limited and may sell out before the event ends. Visiting earlier in the event period generally gives you a better chance of finding the item you want.

What Is Final Fantasy?

If you are unfamiliar with the series, “FF” is the common abbreviation for Final Fantasy.

Final Fantasy is one of Japan’s most famous role-playing game franchises. Each numbered mainline title generally tells its own story in a different world with a new cast of characters.

This means you do not need to play Final Fantasy I through IX before playing Final Fantasy X.

You can begin with Final Fantasy X without knowing anything about the previous games.

Although the numbered games have separate stories, they often share recognizable concepts such as:

• Summoned creatures
• Magic
• Airships
• Chocobos
• Familiar enemy types
• Recurring spell and item names

The series is known for combining fantasy worlds with emotional storytelling, memorable music, ambitious visual design, and evolving battle systems.

For many players, Final Fantasy X is one of the most accessible places to begin.

What Is Final Fantasy X About?

Final Fantasy X was originally released in Japan for the PlayStation 2 on July 19, 2001. It was the tenth numbered entry in the main Final Fantasy series.

The story begins with Tidus, a famous blitzball player from the technologically advanced city of Zanarkand.

After a catastrophic encounter with a mysterious creature called Sin, Tidus finds himself in an unfamiliar world known as Spira.

There, he meets Yuna, a young summoner on a pilgrimage to defeat Sin.

Tidus joins Yuna and her guardians as they travel across Spira, visiting temples, meeting new allies, and learning the truth about the world around them.

That is all you should know before playing.

Final Fantasy X is a game that benefits enormously from going into it without knowing its major revelations. Even searching for basic information about certain characters can reveal important story details.

Avoid character wikis, ending videos, YouTube recommendations, and social media discussions until you have finished the game.

Final Fantasy X Was the First Game That Made Me Cry

Before playing Final Fantasy X, I had seen emotional movies and television dramas, but I had never cried because of a video game.

Final Fantasy X changed that.

A video game creates a different kind of emotional connection from a film.

You do not simply watch Tidus and Yuna travel across Spira. You control the characters, fight alongside them, develop their abilities, discover new locations, and spend dozens of hours accompanying them on their journey.

By the time the story reaches its most important moments, the characters no longer feel like people you have been observing from a distance.

They feel like companions.

I first experienced the game on the PlayStation 2.

Years later, I played it again on the Nintendo Switch.

I already knew the story during my second playthrough, but that did not make it less emotional. In some ways, knowing what would happen made earlier scenes even more powerful.

Small expressions, pauses in conversations, and apparently ordinary lines took on new meaning.

My own perspective had changed as well.

When you revisit a story years later, you sometimes sympathize with different characters or understand choices that you did not fully appreciate when you were younger.

That is one reason Final Fantasy X has aged so well. It is not only a game that can be completed once and forgotten. It is a story that can feel different when you return to it at another stage of your life.

Reason 1: “To Zanarkand” Is One of Gaming’s Most Emotional Themes

Final Fantasy has always been celebrated for its music, and Final Fantasy X contains one of the series’ most recognizable compositions: “To Zanarkand.”

The piece is built around a quiet, melancholic piano melody.

Even without knowing the story, it is beautiful.

After completing the game, however, the music feels completely different.

It becomes inseparable from Tidus and Yuna’s journey, the world of Spira, and the emotions surrounding the story.

For me, “To Zanarkand” is not simply background music. It is part of the storytelling.

Hearing it can immediately bring back scenes and emotions from a game I first experienced many years ago.

People sometimes listen to game soundtracks while studying or relaxing, but I strongly recommend experiencing “To Zanarkand” in the game before repeatedly searching for it online.

Video platforms frequently recommend ending scenes, emotional compilations, and spoiler-filled thumbnails alongside soundtrack videos.

Play the game first.

Listen freely afterward.

Reason 2: It Was the First Mainline Final Fantasy With Voice Acting

Voice acting is now a normal feature of major video games, but it was a dramatic change for Final Fantasy in 2001.

Final Fantasy X was the first numbered mainline game in the series to use character voice acting.

Until then, Final Fantasy players had imagined how characters sounded while reading text boxes.

In Final Fantasy X, players could hear Tidus’s energy, Yuna’s hesitation, Auron’s calm authority, and the personalities of the other guardians.

The voices added emotional details that text alone could not fully communicate:

• A pause before answering
• Uncertainty hidden beneath polite words
• Forced optimism
• Anger held back
• Fear that a character does not want to admit

Final Fantasy X is a story in which people often hide what they truly feel. Because of that, voice acting was especially effective.

Some aspects of the English voice direction reflect the limitations and localization methods of the period, but the performances remain an important part of the game’s identity.

For modern players, voiced dialogue may not seem revolutionary. It is worth remembering, however, that Final Fantasy X represented a major technological and creative transition for the series.

Reason 3: The Visuals Were Astonishing on the PlayStation 2

When I first saw Final Fantasy X running on a PlayStation 2, some of its cinematic scenes looked almost real to me.

Today, we are accustomed to highly detailed characters, realistic lighting, and enormous 3D environments. In 2001, the visual leap represented by Final Fantasy X was extraordinary.

The game used color, water, light, facial expressions, and pre-rendered cinematic sequences to create a world unlike anything I had previously experienced on a home console.

Spira was not simply a medieval European fantasy setting.

Its beaches, temples, clothing, architecture, tropical colors, and religious traditions gave it a distinctive atmosphere.

Some real-time character models naturally show their age today, but the art direction remains memorable.

The HD Remaster improves textures and resolution, making it much easier for modern players to experience the game on current hardware. The remastered collection also includes Final Fantasy X-2 and additional content based on the international editions.

The Battle System Is Friendly to Players Who Do Not Enjoy Action Games

Another reason to recommend Final Fantasy X today is its battle system.

Unlike modern action-oriented Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy X uses a strategic, turn-based system known as the Conditional Turn-Based Battle system.

You can see the upcoming order of character and enemy actions, consider your options, and switch party members during battle.

You do not need fast reflexes or experience with action games.

Different characters are effective against different types of enemies. This encourages you to use the whole party instead of relying on a single favorite character.

The Sphere Grid is used for character development. It can appear complicated at first, but it gradually allows you to improve statistics, learn abilities, and customize how characters develop.

For players who enjoy planning and strategy more than real-time combat, Final Fantasy X may actually feel more approachable than some of the newer games in the series.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster Is Coming to Nintendo Switch 2

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch 2.

The digital version is scheduled for July 23, 2026, while the Japanese physical version is scheduled for August 27, 2026. Square Enix has also announced a special 25th-anniversary sleeve for the initial physical release in Japan, while supplies last.

The collection includes both Final Fantasy X and its direct sequel, Final Fantasy X-2.

The Nintendo Switch format is a good match for a long role-playing game.

You can play major story sequences on a television and continue leveling or exploring in handheld mode.

Final Fantasy X is already available on several other platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and the original Nintendo Switch, so you do not necessarily need to buy a Switch 2 to experience it.

Choose whichever platform is most convenient for you.

The most important thing is to experience the story before the internet reveals it.

A Serious Warning About Spoilers

Final Fantasy X is 25 years old.

As a result, many people online assume that everyone already knows its story.

Major spoilers can appear in:

• Search suggestions
• Character profile pages
• YouTube video titles
• Video thumbnails
• Social media posts
• Forum discussions
• Soundtrack comments
• “Most emotional game endings” lists

Even searching for a character’s name can reveal information that changes how you experience the story.

Try not to search for explanations while playing unless you are completely stuck.

When you need gameplay help, use a clearly marked spoiler-free guide and avoid scrolling into story discussions.

Final Fantasy X is still moving even when you know what happens—I experienced that during my Nintendo Switch playthrough.

But you only get one opportunity to experience the story for the first time.

Protect that experience.

Final Thoughts: Visit the Store, Then Begin the Journey

Final Fantasy X has now been loved for a quarter of a century.

It was the first game that made me cry, one of the first games that showed me how emotionally powerful video game music could be, and one of the titles that made the PlayStation 2 feel like an enormous technological leap.

The 25th-anniversary pop-up stores in Tokyo and Osaka are not large museums, but they offer fans a chance to celebrate the game, buy Japanese merchandise, take photographs, and reconnect with the world of Spira.

The Tokyo location is especially convenient for travelers because it is directly connected to Tokyo Station.

The Osaka location is easy to reach from Shinsaibashi Station and can be combined with a visit to Dotonbori or the surrounding shopping district.

If you have never played Final Fantasy X, the anniversary is the perfect excuse to begin.

Do not read the ending.

Do not search for explanations of the characters.

Do not watch “To Zanarkand” videos surrounded by spoiler-filled recommendations.

Simply start the game, meet Tidus and Yuna, and travel through Spira with them.

When the journey ends, you may understand why Final Fantasy X is still remembered, discussed, replayed, and celebrated 25 years later.