So, you’re thinking of going to Japan, hoping to have a taste of cherry blossoms, sushi, state-of-the-art technology, and video games.
However, if there’s one thing that you should definitely try when visiting Japan, it would be pachinko.
So, what is pachinko?
That’s what we’re about to look at in the following post.
Not only are we going to learn what pachinko is, but we’re also going to have a quick look at its history, how it’s played, and the things you could win playing the game.
Let’s get the ball rolling!
What Is Pachinko?
Pachinko is a Japanese recreational game that takes both luck and skill to win, and it’s considered a hybrid of Western pinball and slot machines.
The object of the game is to win as many balls as you can, by getting a ball into the jackpot pocket.
Here it’s viewed by many as a kind of Japanese gambling game.
Gambling laws are strict here, but Pachinko manages to circumvent them.
The number of balls you win dictates the prize you get.
Much like other arcade games where players get to win tickets, you can exchange your collected balls for some goodies.
Moreover, depending on the build of the machine you’re playing, you could either win physical or digital balls.
In other words, pachinko machines both have mechanical and electronic versions.
Pachinko: Historical Overview
Pachinko is said to be an offshoot of both Britain’s Circle of Pleasure game and America’s Corinthian Bagatelle.
The Japanese played their first game during the early 1920s.
During those times, pachinko machines were often seen in candy stores as a way for shop owners to encourage Japanese kids to stick around their shops.
It was in the ’30s that adults took an interest in playing the game.
When the Second World War broke out, the Japanese were forced to stop producing pachinko machines to redirect their workforce and materials to advance the war effort.
However, pachinko made its comeback two years after the war, with an abundant supply of steel bearings.
Since then, the game has continued to flourish both in popularity and revenue!
And modern pachinko machines are quite different as you’ll see later.
The Pachinko Industry in Japan Today
Now that you have had a glimpse of pachinko’s rich heritage, you might be wondering what this game looks like in Japan today.
For starters, pachinko has turned into a multimillion-dollar industry after more than 50 years.
In recent years, enthusiasts across Japan have spent $200 billion annually on this game.
Plus, out of more than 125 million Japanese people in 2020, roughly 7.1 million played pachinko.
In 2021, the industry had already put up more than 8 thousand pachinko parlors across the country.
How to Play Pachinko
Learning how to play pachinko isn’t rocket science.
Just like any game of luck and skill, this game takes a few minutes to learn, but mastering it might take a lifetime.
Here’s a quick guide on how to play both mechanical and electronic pachinko.
Mechanical Pachinko
You can begin playing mechanical pachinko by renting balls from the parlor’s front desk.
Around 250 to 300 balls is a good start.
The game starts when you launch the ball using the play lever.
The amount of force you put on the lever will dictate the direction and force of the ball moving around the machine.
Your goal is to get the steel ball into the jackpot pocket known as the start chucker, usually located in the middle of the machine.
When you hit the jackpot, the machine will eject balls into the bottom container.
Electronic Pachinko
Much like the video games we play at home, electronic pachinko machines are digitally programmed to run various features and let players enjoy mini-games.
Playing this version is pretty much the same as playing its mechanical counterpart.
In a similar manner, you win when you get the ball into the pocket.
However, the electronic version gives you the option to continue further because new pockets are opened the moment you get the ball into the first win pocket.
This gives you the chance to take some risks and target the newly opened pockets for a higher payout.
Stuff You Get in Exchange for Pachinko Balls
In most cases, the prize you get from playing this game depends not only on the number of balls you collect but also on how the prize structure was set by the pachinko parlor.
While you can’t exchange these balls for cash directly (more on this later), some players sell their prizes and tokens for money.
Let’s have a look at the most common things you could get in exchange for pachinko balls.
Beauty Products
Perhaps one reason why a lot of women love playing this game is that many pachinko parlors exchange collected balls for beauty products.
You can exchange your pachinko balls for face powder, concealer, mascara, lipstick, and eye shadow.
Grocery Items
Imagine being able to bring home grocery items after a few hours of playing pachinko.
That means you can better stock up your kitchen.
Some parlors also exchange balls with grocery ‘vouchers’ that you can use in certain supermarkets and shops.
Gadgets
Being able to win gadgets like laptops, tablets, and mobile phones is a real incentive.
With these kinds of winnings, technophile players radiate with happiness the way the vibrant pachinko lights diffuse across the whole parlor!
Can You Win Cash?
You can’t win money directly by playing pachinko.
But if you go through a few extra steps, you can get some cold hard yen!
And I don’t mean illegally; everything I’m about to say is legal.
To start, exchange your balls for a prize or prizes and leave the area where you exchange them as if you were going home.
Then, you take your prizes to an “exchange point,” which is usually right next door or in the same building as the parlor.
As a side note, these are often Korean-owned.
Here, you can trade your prizes for cash, but there is something you should know.
Specifically, you shouldn’t expect to get street value because you are reselling items, most of which will be brought back to the exchange parlor and “won” by someone else.
Pachinko Parlors in 3 of the Most Attractive Prefectures in Japan
While there are thousands upon thousands of parlors across Japan, it’s nice to have an idea of where to find them the moment you set foot in that country.
So, here are a few recommendations for three of the most attractive prefectures in Japan.
1. Maruhan Hakodate Daimon in Hokkaido
Situated three minutes away by foot from JR Hakodate Station, you can enjoy the 320 pachinko machines of the Maruhan Hakodate Daimon.
2. Oi New Tokyo East in Tokyo
The Oi New Tokyo East is located at Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo.
Once you get there, you can pick from around 250 machines.
3. Prius in Kanagawa
Prius is located in Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and it’s open from 9:00 AM to 10:55 PM from Mondays to Sundays.
This parlor has around 152 machines that aficionados can play.
Final Thoughts
We’ve seen that this game from Japan is something people from all walks of life can enjoy.
That’s because it only takes a few dollars to play it, and it doesn’t have a long learning curve.
Apart from the cheers and excitement as the metal balls bang around the machine, the tokens and rewards you’ll get to take home make the game worth the time!
Just don’t get addicted!
