The 13 Coolest Japanese Arcades You Have to See to Believe

Tamar Altebarmakian
Updated July 10, 2024 52.0K views 13 items
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Vote up the coolest Japanese arcades that just shot to the top of your Japanese travel to-do list.

Your local arcade may have boarded up its doors a few decades ago, but in Japan, arcades are as popular as ever. It should come as no surprise you can find some of the coolest arcades in the world in Tokyo, a gamer’s paradise. With its neon lights, endless sprawl, countless nooks and crannies, and chaotic crowds, Tokyo itself feels a bit like a video game.

Though Tokyo is the center of Japan's arcade culture, most Japanese towns have at least one arcade, known as a gesen (a shortened, Japanized version of the English phrase “game center”). After a long day at work or school, many head to the arcade to play a game of pachinko, take pictures with friends at the photo sticker booth, or reclaim their high score at a favorite game.

Whether you’re looking for a casino-sized arcade with vibrant lights and the latest games or a quiet space housing vintage favorites like Pacman, Japan is your go-to place for some of the best arcades in the world.
  • 1

    Anata no Warehouse, Kawasaki

    Possibly one of the most unique arcades in the world, Anata no Warehouse (Your Warehouse), in Kawasaki, Japan, was designed to look like Kowloon Walled City, a once heavily populated slum in Hong Kong. To get to the games, you need to cross over a body of neon sludge via a dodgy stone path. Everything from the bathrooms to the chicken snack shack is weathered, grimy, and dimly lit.

    The only pristine things here are the games, which give off an unearthly glow in this Texas Chainsaw Massacre-esque landscape. Unlike most arcades, Warehouse is 18-and-over only, probably because of its nightmare-inducing vibe. Check out this extensive walk through video for an idea. 
    135 votes
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  • 2

    Taito Station, Tokyo

    Taito Station, Tokyo

    Like many game centers in Japan, Taito Station has photo sticker booths. But not just any photo sticker booths. Taito Station photo sticker booths take it to the next level.

    Maybe you've seen a photo sticker booth in your local mall; they allow users to decorate pictures and manipulate their appearance. You can change your hair color or enlarge your eyes to make yourself look like an anime character. The unique thing about the photo sticker booths in Taito Station is, they have cosplay costumes users can pose in for free. 

    Looking for a video? Got you covered
    69 votes
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  • 3

    Tokyo Joypolis, Tokyo

    Maybe the largest gesen in Japan, Tokyo Joypolis is an arcade theme park, complete with a roller coaster and haunted house. There are several Joypolis locations in Japan, with Tokyo being the flagship branch. Plan to spend an entire day here, enjoying 3D games and video game themed rides.

    Wanna see more? Check out a Sega tour of the place.
    56 votes
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  • 4

    Tokyo Leisure Land, Tokyo

    No, Tokyo Leisure Land isn’t retiree housing. That said, this five-story building has a mellower vibe than many other arcades in Akihabra; it even has a cheery rainbow gracing its entryway. Point of interest– the arcade has an entire floor dedicated to music games. Make sure not to confuse it with Tokyo Leisureland, a massive game compound and amusement park on Odaiba Island.

    To see the Rainbow facade for yourself, scope this video.
    44 votes
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  • 5

    Try Amusement Tower, Tokyo

    Try Amusement Tower, Tokyo

    Try Amusement Tower, standing eight stories tall, is one of the largest gesen in Japan. The game center has an entire level dedicated to pachislo machines, a hybrid of pachinko and slot machines. Gambling for money is illegal in Japan, so the prizes are typically small knickknacks, home appliances, or tokens to play more games.

    Watch the first few seconds of this walk through to see the facade of Try; it's pretty awesome.
    24 votes
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  • 6

    Club Sega, Tokyo

    Located in the Akihabra district of Tokyo, a Mecca for electronic lovers and die-hard nerds, Club Sega is impossible to miss. The arcade is a whopping seven stories high, and the entire fifth floor is filled with nothing but Sega games.

    If you’re a Sega fan, this is the place for you. Check out the Akihabara streets and the Sega Club in this awesome walk through

    63 votes
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  • 7

    Sega GiGO, Tokyo

    One of the many multi-story arcades in Tokyo, Sega GiGO has the honor of housing the first Pokémon arcade game ever. The first two floors are filled with rows and rows of claw games and capsule toy dispensers. Japan takes toy dispensers to a new level. Known as gashapons, many of these dispensers carry high-quality collectible toys from popular anime and video games.

    The name gashapon is a portmanteau of onamonapia - "gacha" is the sound the claw makes, "pon" is the sound the prize makes as it drops into the exit chute. 

    Want to check it out? Problem solved.

    49 votes
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  • 8

    Super Potato, Tokyo

    If you’re a fan of classic video games, you're in luck, because Super Potato is vintage gamer’s heaven. Primarily a store for retro games, Super Potato boasts three floors of gaming goodness. Head to the top floor of the building to get to the arcade and take a seat on a throne made of NES and Sega game cartridges – your very own throne of games.

    To see the full extent of awesome retro gear and games at Super Potato, check out this crazy walk through - there's more than one giant Mario, and a massive, playable Gameboy hanging from a wall. 
    65 votes
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  • 9

    16 Shots, Tokyo

    16 Shots, Tokyo

    Despite being the smallest establishment on this list, 16 Shots is a fan-favorite with gamers. The bar is presumably named after famed gamer Takahashi Meijin’s ability to push the shoot button 16 times a second.

    The walls are lined with 8-bit memorabilia, and Mario wind-up toys grace the counters of this barcade. Order some video game themed drinks and play a classic. 

    29 votes
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  • 10

    Hirose Entertainment Yard, Tokyo

    Hirose Entertainment Yard, Tokyo

    Hirose Entertainment Yard, or HEY as it’s more commonly known, is one of the most recommended arcades in Japan. Each level in this five-story arcade has a different theme. The first floor is comprised of crane games, the second floor has shooters, the third has old school games, the fourth has fighting games, and the fifth floor has new and Japan-exclusive games. So if you're just in town for a few days, head to that fifth floor. 

    Check out Team Spooky's walk through to get a feel for HEY.

    34 votes
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  • 11

    Natsuge Museum, Tokyo

    Natsuge Museum, Tokyo

    Unlike many of the arcades on this list, Natsuge Museum has only one floor, but it's a damn good one. The arcade features a revolving lineup of games from the '80s and before. Don’t let the name fool you; although this arcade houses old games, this is not a museum. All of the games are playable. 

    Check out this photo slideshow for an idea of some of the great retro stuff you'll find at Natsuge Museum.
    33 votes
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  • 12

    Shooting Bar EA, Tokyo

    Shooting Bar EA, Tokyo

    This shooting range bar isn't exactly an arcade, but it deserves special mention. At this bar you can order air guns off a menu, along with your drink, and enjoy target practice. If you have trouble deciding on a weapon, consider The Samurai Edge, a replica of the .45 caliber pistol from the Resident Evil games, and take aim at a zombie target.

    Wanna see for yourself what it's like drinking and shooting in Tokyo? Check it out. 
    21 votes
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  • 13

    Game Bar A-Button, Tokyo

    Nestled between houses and apartment buildings, this barcade is off the beaten track and a favorite of hardcore gamers. Stacks and stacks of classic-era consoles line the walls and controllers hang from the ceiling like Christmas lights. The big names in Japanese gaming hang out here, talking shop and playing old-school games while enjoying spirits.

    Check out this video walk through to see how crazy-small this place really is. 
    37 votes
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