“Tokyo Odaiba, DiverCity Arcade ‘Round 1’

October 15, 2023 192 Views

In South Korea, it’s not easy to find arcade culture. While arcades existed in the past, they have mostly disappeared, giving way to PC rooms. However, even as PC rooms gradually fade into the background, in Japan, arcades can still be found in various places, often operating on a large scale. Odaiba was no exception, and within the “DiverCity” building, there was a sizable arcade known as “Round 1.”

“Tokyo Odaiba, DiverCity Arcade, Round 1”

The arcade I happened upon inside DiverCity was named “Round 1,” a chain I encountered a few times during my travels in Tokyo. In Japan, you can also find arcades from other brands like “SEGA.”

The arcade in DiverCity occupies the 8th and 9th floors. Unlike arcades like SEGA, which primarily focus on video games, Round 1 also offers sports such as bowling and darts.

“Claw Machines and a Variety of Video Games”

Round 1 in DiverCity is divided into two floors. The lower floor features lighter games such as claw machines and video games. Near the entrance, there were modern dance game machines rarely seen in South Korea, attracting a line of people eager to enjoy the game.

“Cultural Shock from Slot Machine Games”

The overall atmosphere of the arcade wasn’t significantly different from South Korea, with video games being the center of attention in Japan. However, there was a cultural shock when encountering games in the arcade that seemed closer to gambling, such as slot machines and horse racing games. Witnessing young children playing these games without any restrictions was another cultural shock.

Furthermore, observing people smoking indoors while enjoying arcade games was also a notable cultural difference. Although indoor smoking was once seen in South Korea in the past, it has disappeared due to legal restrictions. In Japan, however, such scenes are still prevalent, presenting a cultural shock.

“Japan Tokyo Odaiba DiverCity ROUND 1”