Arcades

Japan is world-renowned for its arcade gaming centers, a subculture that is still very alive and healthy here. Whether you're a video game geek or not, they can be a fun place to hang out and spend some time.

Notable Games

There are far too many games to ever play (or even count) in most good game centers, however these are some of the most popular and/or most amazing games available.

• Purikura

  Purikura needs no introduction. Every arcade has a huge selection of these design-and-draw photo booths. Hours of fun for girls who are probably in your classes. Important note: guys or groups of guys (with no female counterparts) are not allowed to enter the purikura area, this is said to counter groping.

• Taiko no Tatsujin (太鼓の達人)

  The taiko game, with the big drums that you beat. Fun and amazing. Your students will laugh for 3 days if they see you playing it.

• UFO Catchers

  The catcher machines. Every arcade has tons of them. They are also unbelievably difficult, Japanese precision engineering has designed them so that you will fail, and fail many times before experiencing success. A typical sign of Japanese teenage courtship - boy wins girl something kawaii.

Good Arcades

Northern Mie

• Suzuka : Loc Town

  The game center located within Loc Town has one of the area's biggest selections of games, as well as billiard, ping pong, and bowling.

• Suzuka : 10 Boy

  Located a few blocks from Mikkaichi station, this complex has a game center and karaoke on the first floor and bowling lanes on the second floor. If that isn't enough, there is also a Pizza Hut in the compound where you can partake in all-you-can-eat pizza.

• Yokkaichi : Game Off

  Located on Route 1 towards Suzuka, across from Ryokuchi Koen, and behind the Bulldog gift shop. Great selection of classic games and low prices (from 40 yen).

• Yokkaichi : LaLa Square

  Decent-sized arcade on the next to top floor of LaLa Square (Apita) near Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station. They rotate a LOT of games in and out often. So, the selection never gets stale. Lots of Gundam games, including some multiplayer.

• Yokkaichi : Loop

  A little further down Route 1 than Game Off, near the Kayo Jusco. Wide variety of games and amusements spanning 3 floors. Even indoor fishing?? Apparently so!

• Kameyama : Echo Town

  Game Ciao, located in the center of the Echo Town features the standard fare of video games and UFO catchers on the first floor and medal games occupying the second floor. This is also the local hang out for junior and senior high school students so if you teach near the area, prepare to see some familiar faces.

Central Mie

• Matsusaka : Joy Plaza - On Route 42

  All the standard arcade stuff plus bowling, billiards, billiard-bowling, darts, table tennis, and shooting. Great selection of action games, music games, and recent fighting games, however a bit lacking in the racing department. Some games cost real money, others in the back room (mostly fighting and shootem' ups) require tokens, however these token games can be played mostly for 25 or 50 yen. A good few hours of fun on a random weekend. Not a bad location, even coming from Ise.

Eastern Mie

None listed.

Western Mie

• Nabari : Club Sega

  Located pretty near the station. Go out the East (Family Mart) Exit and turn left onto the road there. Turn right at the Circle K and Aoyama Suits store, and it should be up the road a bit, on the right. It's just before Coco's Curry House and ABC Mart and Uniqlo. You might find some of your students there.

• Nabari : Game Ciao

  A bit far from Nabari station, it's on the 165 freeway heading towards Tsu. It could be walked to from Kikyogaoka station I'd imagine. I've never been there to be honest, just too far and I have my own games at home, or the much closer and aforementioned Club Sega.

Southern Mie

• Shingu : Game

  In the Okuwa Supercenter.

Outside Mie

• Nagoya : One near Zepp Nagoya

  Near Nagoya Station

• Nagoya : Urban Square

  Near Osu-Kannon

• Nagoya : King Joy

  Near Sakae

• Osaka : Fuse Sega World

  One of the biggest, best arcades in Kansai. Within Fuse Station (Kintetsu, two stations east of Tsuruhashi).