On my trip to Japan early last year, I was able to visit a few Akihabara Sega arcades... I enjoyed the visit, but it wasn't quite the Mecca I had hoped for. And I found all the arcades in Akihabara -really- hostile to anyone wanting to take photos. They all seemed like they weren't what they once were. And retro? Not surprising, but close (but not entirely) non-existent.
Well... I just read that Akihabara Sega is closing permanently as of August 30.
soranews24.com
Even sadder to me, is that while I was there, I even made it to Kawasaki, but didn't make it to the bladerunner-esque Kawasaki Warehouse Arcade (aka Kowloon Walled City). If you aren't familiar with it, you should be: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kawasake+warehouse+arcade
I wanted to see it even more than seeing Tokyo Disney (which I'll do with a family trip someday hopefully).
Basically, life is full of tough decisions, time was limited and I had something else that was a priority (cliffhanger: With luck, I'll be able able to talk about it more by the end of the year).
Well... it seems Kowloon Walled City closed forever on November 17, 2019...
nichegamer.com
So I'll never make it there.
Well... maybe Japanese arcades haven't died (https://kotaku.com/why-arcades-havent-died-in-japan-1792338461 ), but they aren't in the best of health, and Covid isn't helping...
[Edit: It seems that the one closing is not their grand one (not that such term is appropriate), though maybe a secondary ones. BTW: a few Akihabara arcades are very tall and skinny, like on 6 or so floors but each floor maybe 25 feet wide and 60 feet long... with escalators between each one. ]
Other note: I first visited Akihabara in 1990 and it seemed really amazing at the time (and a good place at the time to pick up next's years models of electronics). It's less amazing to me now. I think it changed, and so did I.
Well... I just read that Akihabara Sega is closing permanently as of August 30.
Akihabara saying goodbye to landmark as giant Sega arcade announces it’s closing for good
Sayonara, Sega Building 2.
soranews24.com
Even sadder to me, is that while I was there, I even made it to Kawasaki, but didn't make it to the bladerunner-esque Kawasaki Warehouse Arcade (aka Kowloon Walled City). If you aren't familiar with it, you should be: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kawasake+warehouse+arcade
I wanted to see it even more than seeing Tokyo Disney (which I'll do with a family trip someday hopefully).
Basically, life is full of tough decisions, time was limited and I had something else that was a priority (cliffhanger: With luck, I'll be able able to talk about it more by the end of the year).
Well... it seems Kowloon Walled City closed forever on November 17, 2019...
Iconic Kowloon Walled City Arcade in Japan is Closing
This is Niche Culture. In this column, we regularly cover anime, geek culture, and things related to video games. Please leave feedback and let us know if there’s something you want us to cover! We'
nichegamer.com
So I'll never make it there.
Well... maybe Japanese arcades haven't died (https://kotaku.com/why-arcades-havent-died-in-japan-1792338461 ), but they aren't in the best of health, and Covid isn't helping...
[Edit: It seems that the one closing is not their grand one (not that such term is appropriate), though maybe a secondary ones. BTW: a few Akihabara arcades are very tall and skinny, like on 6 or so floors but each floor maybe 25 feet wide and 60 feet long... with escalators between each one. ]
Other note: I first visited Akihabara in 1990 and it seemed really amazing at the time (and a good place at the time to pick up next's years models of electronics). It's less amazing to me now. I think it changed, and so did I.
Last edited:
