TAITO Station Akihabara — Local services in Tokyo

If you grew up loving arcade games or just want to experience that pure, competitive energy, Taito Station Akihabara is an absolute blast. Spread across several floors, this arcade is packed with everything from claw machines (UFO catchers) and rhythm games to fighting games and shooters.

The sound of buttons mashing and music blasting hits you as soon as you enter, and it’s honestly exciting. I spent over an hour just on the rhythm games floor – they’re ridiculously fun even if you’re not good. The UFO catchers here are loaded with plushies and exclusive anime figures, and unlike many arcades elsewhere, they’re actually winnable.

Staff are everywhere and will help reposition prizes or explain machines if you ask. The whole place is clean, and each floor has a different vibe depending on the type of games.

The only reason I’m giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is that it can get incredibly crowded, especially on weekends, which makes some games hard to access or enjoy calmly. Still, whether you're chasing high scores or just want to play casually, this is a very fun stop in Akihabara. I left with a huge plush cat and...

Crane game machines are machines that have a system where the arm's strength increases when a certain number of plays or amount of money is reached, making it easier to win prizes. In normal play, the strength of the arm is weak, and even when the prize is lifted, it is often dropped in the middle.

Features of a probability machine Arm strength changes: When a certain number of games or amount of money is reached, the arm strength increases.

Reset function: When a prize is won, the settings are reset and the arm strength becomes weak again.

Strategy for playing a probability machine Wait for the arm strength to increase: Aim for the time when the arm strength increases after a certain number of times.

Aim for a machine that the previous player has abandoned: If you take over a machine that the previous player has given up on after playing many times, you will have a higher chance of winning a prize after playing a small number of times. Avoid playing on a machine after winning a prize: It is wise to avoid playing on a machine immediately after winning a prize, as the machine will...

I am ashamed to say I spent 20 minutes and ¥200 here. In this review, I am commenting on the claw machines, not the other games, as I didn't try them.

Impossible to win 🏆: The claw machines are terrible. If you spend 5 minutes looking around this place, you can see no one has won a single prize. After watching someone try to win airpods, I saw why.

Unfair ❌: The claws grasp onto items very well. Once the item is grabbed, it lifts it up. While doing so, it loosens it's grip to allow the item to fall out. (You can see in the video below)

Extreme greed 💴: After watching the video, it's very obvious why they get your hopes so high: to make you play again, thinking that last try was unlucky. The owner of this place clearly does everything in their power to get more money while turning their backs to the experiences of their customers.

What's the fun if all these machines do is get your hopes high before you inevitably lose? If you come here, it better not be for the...