For many gamers, Japan is at the top of their most-wanted countries to visit, and for good reason. Tokyo, specifically, has a historical arcade culture that despite dwindling in recent years, remains an attractive prospect for anyone looking to vacation in one of the gaming meccas of the world.
It's hard not to think of the amount of influence Japan has had in gaming, helping it become a multi-billion dollar industry. Even for casual fans, Nintendo and SEGA are widely recognized, and both Mario and Sonic are iconic pop culture figures that have transcended the gaming world.
The heyday of gaming culture in Japan was undoubtedly the 90s with the rise of arcades. While gaming is still widely popular in the country, with Japan’s gaming engagement ranking seventh in game-play hours by its most active players according to ExpressVPN, it's undeniable that foreign fans travel to the country yearning to experience what it feels like to play in a more social environment.
Nowadays, places like Akihabara and Nakano are prime destinations for those looking to game the old-school way. Sadly, if you're looking to find a wide selection of places hosting retro gaming cabinets, your options are slowly diminishing as we've mentioned.
A recent report by ITmedia translated by Automaton shed some light on how the classic arcades have taken a major hit in a post-pandemic world, with an increase in bankruptcies in the past couple of years.
In total, over the last 10 years, over 8000 arcades have closed down, with news of the iconic SEGA GiGO Akihabara arcade going viral in 2022 due to SEGA selling their entire arcade division that same year.
The low margin of profit from classic arcades means that the likes of crane games and gacha machines have taken over big chunks of the market, but that isn't to say there aren't places still fighting to keep the old classic arcade experience alive.
Some of the places gaming fans that are looking for a more traditional experience away from the conventions of new generation arcade spots include Mikado's game centers, found in both the Takadonobaba and Ikebukuro districts, where players can find all sorts of classic cabinets including Pac-Man, Metal Slug, and an impressive amount of fighting games, ranging from Street Fighter, Guilty Gear to Garou, The King of Fighters, and many more.
Mikado is such a staple of the arcade culture in Japan that in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the founder Minoru Ikeda successfully pulled off a crowdfunding campaign raising over ¥37 million (roughly $233,000) to keep the arcades operational through the rough lockdown period.
Even if you can't make it to Japan, indulging in a bit of that old-school arcade experience is still possible from the comfort of your home. RGG Studios' Like a Dragon series (formerly known as Yakuza) gives players the chance to explore iconic locations in Japan, including Kabukicho (named Kamurocho in-game).
There, players can find several SEGA arcades, which are now nonexistent in real life, and enjoy multiple titles from the Virtua Fighter series, Puyo Puyo, SEGA Racing Classic, and more.
So there you have it. While the future for classic arcades is uncertain, if you have the opportunity to enjoy relics of old times, don't let it go to waste.