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 delightful for you. Game Center’s history as a Sega arcade game leaves so many great classics available to ride Manx TT Super Bike machines to a Rad Mobile a game you play while sitting in a mini car. I could spend at least an hour just bouncing between the different steering wheels of these vintage machines.
Compared to when we visited Namco’s gaming center earlier in the day down the street, the selection of rhythm games – where tapping controllers in rhythm earns you points – was pretty similar. Although in Gigo 3 we were able to play multiple rhythm games without feeling the need to move due to other users waiting in line behind us. It was delightful to try out all the rhythmic experiences for the first time and my personal favorite was Sega’s Maimai Machine. I was amazed watching nearby players smash all eight buttons in time with the music, sliding their fingers across the screen as they racked up combos – I was content to play on the accessible, easy difficulty levels rather than risk breaking out in a violent sweat.
Another enjoyable experience in Gigo 3 for passengers is the photo booth section. Although it’s mostly filled with teenage girls perfecting their make-up, using hair straighteners for touch-ups and trying on crispy blonde wigs, we had fun taking photos in the booths and couldn’t stop laughing as the software blew our facial features out of proportion , while we looked like ghostly aliens. One booth we tried even had a horror theme with light narration as you hit the poses.
We went to the games a lot and never spent more than ¥5,000 (about $33) at any of the arcades in Tokyo. Overall, our experience with the Gigo 3 was budget-friendly and magnetic.
If you are traveling with children
After riding an outdoor escalator to reach the entrance of 1-chome Playlandlocated on The artificial island of Tokyo of Odaiba, I was surrounded by nostalgic neon hues and the most mechanical arcade games I had seen all trip. Yes, there were a few other gaming options, but the main attraction here was an assortment of vintage machines, often with some sort of interactive mechanical element. Despite age and public use, most of the games here were in great shape.
The space isn’t huge, but around every corner we stumbled upon unique experiences and happily spent handfuls of yen coins. I used a small chef’s pan to crush rodents while the targets flashed on the screen. My partner and I got too competitive, spinning the cursors and trying to win our game of ping pong. I almost landed three pinballs in a row while playing on Sailor Moon-themed tic-tac-toe.
At 1-chome Playland, I saw many families with young children as well as couples on aesthetic dates. The location is easy to overlook, right next to other family oriented options like Legoland Discovery Center and Tokyo Joyopolisbut honestly it’s worth the train ride itself. We spent an hour and a half trying out machines and could probably spend another 30 minutes on a less busy evening.
Just be warned, any family outing at this arcade is almost guaranteed to end in a trip to some nearby 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 also enjoyed our time at Namco, HEY skilland GiGO #1— all in Akihabara and only a few blocks away from each other. For a more intimate experience, head to Takadanobaba where Mikado Game Center has a solid selection of vintage machines, and the nearby Natsuge Museum is a fantastic stop for pinball fans.
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