Tokyo’s best video game arcades in Akihabara: where to go, what to do

If you are a racing game enthusiast, this stop will be a delight for you. Game Center’s history as a Sega arcade leaves behind so many cool classics to try out Manx TT superbike Machines into one Wheel Mobile Game you play while sitting in a mini car. I could have spent at least an hour bouncing back and forth between the different steering wheels on these retro machines.

Compared to our visit to the Namco Game Center across the street earlier in the day, the selection of rhythm games – where you score points for tapping to the beat of the controllers – was pretty similar. However, we were able to play several rhythm games in Gigo 3 without feeling the need to move because other guests were waiting in line behind us. It was lovely to try all the rhythm experiences for the first time and was my personal favorite Sega’s Maimai machine. I was amazed as I watched nearby players mashing down all eight keys to the music at just the right moment, swiping their fingers across the screen as they put together combos – I was content to play on the accessible, easy difficulty levels , rather than risk breaking out in a nasty sweat.

Another pleasant experience for travelers in Gigo 3 is the picture booth area. While it’s mostly teenage girls perfecting their makeup, using hair straighteners for touch-ups, and trying on crisp blonde wigs, we had a blast taking photos in the booths and couldn’t stop laughing as the software made our facial features up Distorted out of proportion, we looked like ghostly aliens. One booth we tried even had a horror theme with some light narration as you struck the poses.

We put a lot of effort into the games and didn’t spend more than 5,000 yen (about $33) at any of the arcades in Tokyo. Overall, our experience at Gigo 3 was budget-friendly and appealing.

Mario dominates his home game.

Photo: James Matsumoto/Getty

If you are traveling with children

After riding an outdoor escalator you will reach the entrance of 1-chome Playlandlocated on Tokyo’s artificial island In Odaiba I was surrounded by nostalgic neon colors and the most mechanical arcade games I had ever seen. Yes, there were a few other options for gaming, but the main attraction here was a selection of vintage machines, often with some sort of interactive, mechanical element. Despite their age and public use, most of the games here were in excellent condition.

The place isn’t huge, but we had unique experiences around every corner and were happy to spend a handful of yen coins. I used a small cooking pan to crush rodents while target lights flashed across the screen. My partner and I were a little too competitive as we rotated the cursors and tried to win our table tennis soccer game. While playing, I almost landed three pinballs in a row Sailor Moon-Themed Tic-Tac-Toe.

At 1-chome Playland I saw many families with small children as well as couples having aesthetic dates. The location is easy to miss, right next to other family-oriented options like this Legoland Discovery Center And Tokyo Joyopolisbut the train ride alone is really worth it. We spent an hour and a half trying out machines, and on a less busy evening we probably could have spent another 30 minutes.

Be warned though, any family trip to this arcade will almost certainly end with a trip to one of the nearby locations Ice cream Shopping on the way back to the hotel. It just feels right.

Looking for other Japanese gaming centers worth visiting in Tokyo? We enjoyed our time too Namco, HEY abilityAnd GIGO #1– all in Akihabara and just a few blocks from each other. For a more intimate experience, head to Takadanobaba, where the Mikado Game Center has a solid selection of retro machines and the nearby Natsuge Museum is a fantastic stop for pinball fanatics.