The unique challenges and economic downturn of 2020 proved to be an extremely difficult period for arcades and 'in person' businesses. In Tokyo, a city beloved for its iconic gaming sites, SEGA closed down its Akihabara 2nd arcade in 2020, before confirming that Sega Ikebukuro Gigo was to close in September due to the end of a building lease. It was given an emotional farewell by its supporters.
In a rather positive shift after that disappointing news, SEGA has confirmed that a new arcade centre will be opened on 22nd October just across the street (hat-tip to @ausretrogamer).
As you can see in the sign it's going to have arcade games, a whole lot of 'crane games' and a café; it will hopefully have a similar vibe to the arcades that have closed in the last couple of years.
So, if you're an arcade fan that still hopes to go to Tokyo in the future, this certainly looks like somewhere to put on your itinerary.
Comments 18
So it is essentially moving over then? At least there will still be a SEGA arcade in the area.
Watched a short documentary on the closing just a few days ago. Super happy news for the staff and fans!
Glad it see it returning. It was fun to visit when I was there. 🙂
Revive the arcades
Must have purchased the store with the money they made from the new NSO deal 😜😜
On a serious note tho id love to visit somewhere like this. I remember back in the 90's while working work expierience with my brother. We were in London and he was finalising a sale in a store and i popped over the street and was playing Street Fighter Alpha 2 for an hour in an arcade. Was amazing.
I'm I reading that right? 3 floors of crane games and arcade games in the basement? Love seeing cultural differences.
I won a plush of Pikachu in a Snorlax sleeping bag on my first try, on the claw machine nearest to the entrance in the SEGA building that just closed. I remember a bunch of people watching, and they actually clapped after I got it! 😂 Unfortunately, the next time I won something out of a claw machine on my first attempt, it was at a motorway service station in the UK and the prize was a Minion in a hula skirt 😒 gave that one away to my friend immediately haha
I'm very glad that at last, some good news for Tokyo SEGA arcades are arriving.
People who are only aware of Sega arcades in Japan because one of their iconic arcade location closed should wake up...there are thousands of arcades across Japan, yet people think the very last of them closed.
So they moved in other words? Lol
@EVIL-C Lucky.. I'd die to visit Japan 😁
Grand Closin’, Grand Openin’?
@Markiemania95 hell yeah, a minion in a hula!
Oh, that's cool, so it's not another arcade gone, just an arcade moved and renovated.
I love that the sign is all in English without a single Japanese word in sight. This arcade may well be in Cleveland and we'd not know the difference.
Not sure I’ll ever be there to see it, but as a Sega fan it’s somehow reassuring non the less
As Sonic said in the 1998 movie at least western wise... (with bad voice actors of course) vvveerry interesting, isn't it!
Akihabara is so much fun. Been there a few times and the arcades are great... fantastic to see SEGA is opening a new arcade... will definitely go there once this corona thing is over.
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