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Arcades
This awesome Japanese arcade chain has crane game coaches to help you win prizes
- Casey Baseel
Aug 11, 2026 - Tweet
Our crane game novice heads to Benex for a training day with the Assist Crew.
- Japan
- (Arcades • Benex • claw games • COK • crane games • game centers • Natsuno Futon • SNJO • UFO catchers)
You’ll never win cash or prizes or cash at this Tokyo pachinko parlor, and that’s why it’s so cool
- Casey Baseel
May 20, 2026
Tampopo is part pachinko parlor, part video game arcade, and part museum.
- Japan
- (Arcades • COK • cool • Fussa • game centers • Mr. Saro • pachinko • pachinko parlors • retro • SNJO)
I had no idea you could win crane game prizes in Japan the way my friend won this Dragon Quest Slime
- Casey Baseel
Nov 27, 2025
This black Slime plushie had become his white whale until something I’d never experienced before happened.
- Japan
- (Arcades • COK • crane games • Dragon Quest • Dragon Quest Slime • game centers • moving • plushies • Shadow Slime • slime • Slime Dark • SNO • touching • UFO catchers • video games)
Giant new nine-floor arcade opens in Tokyo, wants to welcome new and old games fans alike
- Casey Baseel
Nov 22, 2025
Landmark Akihabara location reopens with new owners.
- Japan
- (Akihabara • Arcades • COK • game centers • GiGO • Sega • Silk Hat • tourism • travel • video games)
Maker of Japan’s first crane machine is looking for a working model, offering 100,000-yen reward
- Casey Baseel
Nov 12, 2025
Taito is also giving away free games to fans with personal memories of the Crown 602.
- Japan
- (Arcades • claw machines • crane games • Crown 602 • retro games • Taito • technology • UFO catchers • video games)
Tokyo losing another iconic arcade with announced closure of 40-year-old Ikebukuro game center
- Casey Baseel
Oct 16, 2025
A once-adored location in Ikebukuro is down to its last few months.
- Japan
- (Adores • Arcades • game centers • Ikebukuro • video games)
Game over as 33-year-old landmark arcade closes in Tokyo’s Akihabara district【Photos, video】
- Casey Baseel
Sep 2, 2025
The shutter and curtain come down on the first arcade Sega ever opened in Japan’s biggest gamer neighborhood.
- Japan
- (Akihabara • Arcades • GiGO • GiGO Akihabara Building 1 • Sega • video games)
New multi-floor arcade opens in Tokyo on same day Akihabara landmark announces closure
- Casey Baseel
Jul 17, 2025
We may have to say goodbye to Akihabara Building 1, but it’s also time to say hello to a brand-new GiGO arcade elsewhere in Tokyo.
- Japan
- (Akihabara • Arcades • COK • Fuchu • game centers • Genda • GiGO • Sega • video games)
Landmark Akihabara arcade, opened by Sega over 30 years ago, announces sudden closure
- Casey Baseel
Jul 16, 2025
Tokyo is about to lose another site of game otaku history.
- Japan
- (Akihabara • Arcades • COK • game centers • Genda • GiGO • Sega • video games)
Dragon Quest Slime sandwich molds are drawing near in Japan
- Casey Baseel
Mar 14, 2025
“Slime Sandwich Mold” usually wouldn’t be such an appealing combination, but these are sandwich makers shaped like the beloved Dragon Quest mascot we’re talking about.
- Japan
- (Arcades • cute • Dragon Quest • Dragon Quest Slime • food • sandwiches • slime • Square Enix • Taito • Taito Station • UFO catchers • video games)
Retro game arcade severely damaged in fire in Japan【Video】
- Casey Baseel
Jan 23, 2025
Fire breaks out at Osaka arcade popular with foreign tourists, motorcycle in building may have made situation worse.
- Japan
- (Arcades • COK • fire • game centers • Osaka • retro games • Tsutenkaku • video • video games)
Japanese arcades now have crane games where you can win sweet potatoes then roast them in-store
- Casey Baseel
Oct 22, 2024
Will sweet potatoes won taste twice as sweet as sweet potatoes earned?
- Japan
- (Arcades • cool • crane games • crazy • food • sweet potatoes • UFO catchers • weird • yaki imo • yakiimo)
Genshin Impact characters to become delicious desserts at video game arcades in Japan
- Casey Baseel
Oct 12, 2024
Ready to sink your teeth into Genshin Impact in a whole new way?
- Japan
- (Arcades • COK • food • Genshin Impact • GiGO • GiGO Taiyaki • Kurikoan • Sega • Sega Taiyaki • sweets • taiyaki • video games)
We try to buy a retro Japanese coin-operated arcade machine at this secondhand shop near Tokyo
- Oona McGee
Oct 6, 2024
A giant Pikachu beguiles us with its cute face and affordable price tag, but there’s one surprising hurdle to owning one.
- Japan
- (anime • Arcades • children • coin-operated rides • cute • department stores • fun • Hobby Off • kiddie rides • nostalgia • parks • Pikachu • retro • secondhand shop)
Pokémon Exciting Vacation Campaign in Namco kicks off just in time for summer vacation in Japan
- Krista Rogers
Jul 22, 2024
Crane games guarantee you’ll win a Poké-exclusive item in the Namco Lottery.
- Japan
- (Arcades • claw machine • COK • crane game • crane games • Lapras • Namco • plushies • Pokemon • Staryu • UFO catchers)
Tokyo’s most famous arcade announces price increase, fans don’t seem to mind at all
- Casey Baseel
Apr 17, 2024
Mikado makes a move that other game centers did long ago.
- Japan
- (Arcades • game centers • Mikado • video games)
Sega successor opens new arcade with a regional craft beer bar inside it
- Casey Baseel
Feb 6, 2024
Multiple regional brewers and amazing taiyaki will keep you from getting too thirsty or hungry while you’re at Japan’s newest arcade.
- Japan
- (alcohol • Arcades • beer • COK • cool • craft beer • drinks • food • Genda GiGO • GiGO • Sapporo • Sega • sweets • taiyaki • video games)
We visit one of the last rooftop amusement parks in Japan and feel like we stepped back in time
- Dale Roll
Nov 12, 2023
Our reporter returns to a place of her childhood that’s still going strong after decades of operation.
- Japan
- (Arcades • children • coin-operated rides • department stores • fun • kiddie rides • Mariko Ohanabatake • Nagasaki • nostalgia • parks • playgrounds • retro)
Wear samurai armor while playing video games? That’s an option at this Japanese inn【Video】
- Casey Baseel
Sep 17, 2023
Hokkaido ryokan lets you suit up in lamellar to play Dance Dance Revolution and Out Run.
- Japan
- (Arcades • awesome • cool • crazy • culture • game centers • history • hot springs • hotels • inns • onsen • retro games • ryokan • samurai • travel • video games • weird)
We beat two crane games at a Japanese arcade and take home two lucky bags
- Oona McGee
Aug 28, 2023
Check out our UFO Catcher haul!
- Japan
- (Arcades • COK • crane game • crane games • fukubukuro • game centers • game centres • gaming arcades • Ikuna Kamezawa • lucky bag • plushies • SNJO • UFO catcher • UFO catchers • video game arcades)
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Recent Posts
- Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
- This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
- Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
- Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
- Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
Weekly
- Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
- Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises- Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
Modern exosuits are opening up ancient Japanese castle climbs to everyone
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
Starbucks Japan releases “Let’s Par-TEA!” Frappuccino and drinks for the holiday season
Cold Stone is closing its final branch in all of east Japan, but it’s going down singing
Monthly
Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?- Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]
New Studio Ghibli anime gets extended run at the only cinema in Japan where it’s being shown
Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store- Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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RECOMMENDED STORIES
This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
This semi-secret, totally free footbath in downtown Tokyo is completely awesome
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
Pokémon guitars from Fender Japan come with 8-bit sound mode for covering retro game music [Vid]
Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
Shoplifting prevention guard arrested for shoplifting boot from store he was guarding
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