If you find yourself in the bustling district of Shinjuku craving some crane games action, you’re in luck. The busy metropolis is not only about shopping and nightlife, it also has a nice selection of game arcades. Here’s the lowdown on what’s worth checking out.
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Vlog: Crane Games in Shinjuku
Make sure you check out the vlog to get a taste each arcade’s vibe and also see some play action!
Namco Tokyo (Kabukicho Tower)
➡ 東京都新宿区歌舞伎町１丁目２９−１ 東急歌舞伎町タワ 3階
Located inside the fresh-faced Kabukicho Tower in the heart of Shinjuku, Namco Tokyo‘s claim to fame is a Big Crane machine that offers giant-sized plushies. But at 500 yen a play, you better really want that plushie.
There is also a decent selection of standard and mini claw machines, but the vibe in general feels rather touristy. Great for snaps and soaking in the cyberpunk atmosphere, but those serious about crane gaming should head downstairs to…
GiGO Kabukicho
➡ 東京都新宿区歌舞伎町1-21-1第二東亜会館1F
GiGO is one of the biggest game arcade chains in Japan, with branches throughout the country. The branch in Kabukicho lacks machines with food prizes, but it boasts a good range of the latest plushies and figurines. Staff are also generally nice and helpful.
While some of the newer prizes are set to 200 yen a play, you can still find plenty at 100 yen. The bars for hashi-watashi are also a lot wider than many other arcades, although the claw strength can be weak. I have had success winning a number of figurines from this GiGO without assistance.
GamePanic Kabukicho
➡ 東京都新宿区歌舞伎町1-20-1 Humax Pavilion 新宿歌舞伎町1階・2階
Right across the square is GamePanic, another relatively prominent arcade chain in Japan. This chain is a personal favourite of mine as it offers the 6 plays for 500 yen deal. In addition to the usual plushies and figurines, it also has a wide range of snack prize machines with various setups.
The UFO Catcher Duet settings for mini plushies are gold here. The shield is often very low or non-existent, and the claw fairly strong with stop function enabled. This means rolling the plushie into the opening is very possible, and I have won numerous mini mascots using this method. Conversely, I would avoid their figurine setups. It is sue-hirogari, or widening bars, which I generally find more difficult than conventional hashi-watashi. It is especially difficult here as the box cannot fit through the bars except at the very edge, and the claw twists at an angle disadvantageous to the direction you want to go (wide end).
Most snacks are relatively straightforward and simple to get here, so stick to them for some fun.
GAO
➡ 東京都新宿区歌舞伎町1-6-8 アミューズ歌舞伎町１F
Venture into the back streets of Kabukicho to find GAO. Less known than the others on this list, it offers a nice respite from the crowds, allowing you to play in peace. Despite being smaller than its counterparts, GAO stands out with prizes that are less commonly found in other game centers, such as axolotls and capybaras.
Figurines are not easy to get here, but it depends a lot on the setup. Less popular prizes may have wider bars. One thing that puts me off though is that they tape all the edges of the box, likely to prevent people from using stabbing techniques. But it lowers the value of the figurine since the box is damaged with all the tape. Staff will also not assist you with repositioning even if you spend a lot, so that’s a nope from me.
Shinjuku Sports Land
➡ 東京都新宿区新宿３丁目２２−１２
Moving away from Kabukicho, cross the main road to find even more crane gaming delights.
First off, we have Shinjuku Sports Land. Don’t be fooled by the name — this facility is more about leisure than sports. The highest floor offer darts and billiards, hence the name, but it does feel somewhat misleading to me. In any case, you’ll find a mix of crane games, arcade games and Purikura (photo sticker booths) on the first two floors.
The arcade appears to be owned by GENDA GiGO now, so I expect many of the setups to be the same. You don’t get the benefits of the GiGO app here though, so might as well play at GiGO.
Taito Station
East Exit branch
➡ 東京都新宿区新宿３丁目２２
A few doors down from Shinjuku Sports Lands is the Shinjuku East Exit branch of Taito Station, marked by two Big “Crappy”s making a raucous outside.
Taito Station is arguably the most famous game arcade chain in Japan, so its branches are always very popular and often crowded. This branch offers five floors of gaming goodness, with crane games taking up most of first three floors. There is also an interesting collection of mini claw machines featuring realistic food models, almost like a crane game center of Kappabashi.
South Exit branch (GameWorld)
➡ 東京都新宿区新宿３丁目３５−７ ワールドビル
The second Taito Station branch in Shinjuku is near the South Exit of the station, and while not as big, it does feature a horror-themed escape room attraction in its basement. It also has a decent selection of snack prize machines. Figurines are on the difficult side to get, so I mostly stick to plushies or other little merch if I play here.
ME Tokyo Shinjuku
➡ 東京都新宿区新宿3丁目37番14号
Last but definitely not least, is ME Tokyo Shinjuku. This hip and vibrant game arcade is located a street away from the South Exit branch of Taito Station, and you can’t miss it with its bright yellow facade. It is a favourite among pro crane gamers and for good reason.
A few things make ME Tokyo unique: 1) There is a cafe on the 3F, 2) It has chairs for tired companions to sit, 3) It offers nifty tote bags to carry home your wins.
The basement comprises of figurines and gachapon machines, while the first and second floors are all crane games. The figurine setups here are decent. The bars are very narrow, so the prize often wedges, but the claws are very strong so it is possible to drop it. They open very wide though, so techniques like tome-kake are not possible. Staff will help if they see you’ve spent enough.
The second floor is almost entirely dedicated to snacks. And not just your usual chocolate and chips, but also more substantial eats like Beard Papa cakes, vitamin jelly, and Dole fruit salad.
The vast majority of the snack setups are hashi-watashi (through the bars) or sue-hirogari (widening bars), so you can nab some pretty nice bargains if they are your forte. The arcade also indicates which machines are “easy,” which makes it a good place for beginners to play as well.
Map
In summary
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at the range of crane games in Shinjuku, all which beckon you with their bright flashing lights and familiar sounds. While you can generally find similar prizes across the board, not all arcades are created equal. In Shinjuku, I personally stick to the following:
- GiGO for exclusive figurines, merchandise
- GamePanic for mini plushies, snacks
- Me Tokyo for snacks, figurines, easy plushies
If I have time, I may also play for some plushies or merchandise at Taito Station GameWorld. In any case, this guide should give you enough information to embark on an arcade adventure in Shinjuku. Grab your coins and get ready to play!
If you want some tips before venturing into the world of UFO catchers, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Crane Games. For those living in Japan, you can also hone your skills by playing remotely.
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