If you are going to explore the culture of Japan, then quite simply you have to get involved with the pachinko scene, because this pin ballesuqe pseudo gambling game is a big deal.
In fact in 2023 alone it was estimated to be worth almost $3 billion. Yet despite this the game is not without a fair bit of controversy.
How do you Play Pachinko?
OK, so while I have tried to play pachinko more than once and have had it explained more than once, I still do not truly get it. I have though garnered enough knowledge to be able to write at least a simple guide…
Pachinko, Japan’s beloved gambling game, is an experience all its own—part pinball, part slot machine, and wholly addictive. Whether you’re a seasoned gambler or a curious traveler, here’s how you can dive into the chaotic world of Pachinko.
Step 1: Entering the Parlor
First things first, find a Pachinko parlor. You can’t miss them—they’re everywhere in Japan, glowing with neon signs and blaring electronic noises. Inside, the atmosphere is a sensory overload: flashing lights, rows of machines, and the constant clatter of steel balls.
Step 2: Buy Your Balls
At the entrance, you’ll find automated machines where you buy your ammunition—small steel balls. Most people start with about 1,000 yen’s worth, which gives you a tray full of balls to get started. These balls are your lifeline in Pachinko, so guard them carefully.
Step 3: Choose Your Machine
Now, pick a machine. The options are endless, each with different themes ranging from anime characters to samurai warriors. Sit down, place your tray of balls next to you, and get ready to play.
Step 4: Shoot the Balls
To play, insert a few balls into the machine’s launch mechanism, and turn the knob to fire them into the playing field. The balls will ricochet around the pins, and if you’re lucky, some will land in the right spots to trigger bonuses or jackpots.
Step 5: Cash In
When you’re done, take your remaining balls to the counter. They’ll be counted, and you’ll receive a ticket or tokens that can be exchanged for prizes. If you’re after cash, take your tokens to an exchange booth outside the parlor. This is how they get around gambling rules! Although I decided to keep the can of spam that I won.
That’s it—you’ve just played Pachinko. As you will find it is fairly simple on a base level, but is also something you can get much deeper with.
What is it like at a Pachinko Parlor
We took the Extremes of Japan group down to deep and dirty 24 hour party district of Tokyo, as well as home to one of the slightly friendlier to foreigners pachinko parlors.
We arrived act just 10.20 and despite the fact it had only been open for 20 minutes was already ram packed with people of all ages gambling their time away. And despite being the only foreigners in the gaff we were largely just left alone, save for the staff who helped us try to play the games, badly, much to their amusement.
To me at least it was also clear that these places exist as their one eco-system with a smoking area, vending machines and cafes to keep people inside. It was also fairly evident that the capitals homeless women were using it as an indoor place to hang out in.
Pachinko and North Korea
Perhaps most interesting about such a decadently capitalist enterpriser is its links to North Korea. This comes from the fact that the hame is largely run by the North Korean residents of Japan known as Chongnyron. These guys fully believe in the North Korean system and are educated as such.
Therefore money that they make also makes its way to the DPRK and allegedly the nuclear weapon program.
This is of c course not North Koreas only link to gambling, with the Yanggakdo Hotel and Rason also having their own casinos.
To some this can cause a bit of a moral quandary, but not thankfully for The Street Food Guy, if only I could bloody understand what I was doing…..