Takadanobaba Mikado Arcade

I had heard «Takadanobaba» about 500 times over a few visits to Japan; I passed it several times a day on the Yamanote line. The cadence of its name– said by the automated announcer as if the syllables were bouncing out of her mouth– always made us giggle. Finally on this visit, I have more time than I know what to do with, and challenged myself to go find what makes Takadanobaba worth visiting.
Besides being Astroboy’s hometown, Takadanobaba is also home of Waseda University, and is thus a popular area of cheap Izakaya, and the overall «cool but not trendy» vibe that many people crave. It’s not glitzy, but it is bright and a bit gaudy. It’s cheap but not trashy. It feels relaxed but it is by no means calm.
To the immediate west of the Takadanobaba train station lies the Takadanobaba Mikado Arcade. Arcades are not a new thing in Tokyo– you can find an arcade on every corner. But retro arcades? Don’t make any bets– you’re better off finding vegan sushi in Japan than a retro arcade. Imagine my delight when wandering in here. It’s mostly games on non-​original displays, so it’s not exactly as «authentic» as you might find elsewhere. That said, there are some true gems– I played a Pole Position II machine in its original display case that worked perfectly.
My husband and I returned later and played several games, many of which were unique to Japanese arcades 20 – 30 years ago. There are also a few pinball machines, which you don’t often see in Japan. All games are 100 yen, which is pretty expensive but worth it for the unique nostalgia. There are also tournaments here, vending machines, and you can smoke, so it’s one stop shopping for the game enthusiast. Definitely worth a visit if you’re passing through this area.

One of the last surviving independent game centers in Japan, and for good reason. Great crowd of locals, amazingly skilled players, and a good selection of well maintained games. One hint for those who go: check out what the area looks like on Streetview first (it’s in an alleyway and it’s a little confusing if you’ve never been there before). Make sure to visit here!