Pachinko 

What is Pachinko?

To me it looks like a mixture between a slot machine and pinball. I played it once with a friend of mine, it's not that easy to win, I lost just in a few minutes (well I only put in ¥1000 haha), it's somehow amusing and fun to play, but the noise inside the game arcade are usually very loud and I don't know why.

How to play?

When you put in some money, the machine will give you some silver metal balls. You control the speed of the balls fired by the machine using the power dial that can be turned up and down, and target them to the catcher, when the digital screen spin and you get three number for the jackpot, you win and can collect the balls to change with prizes. You can then sell the prize outside the parlor, it said that each ball worth around 4yen.

You probably notice that most people that go there are man, it doesn't mean that it's only for man because I went in there too, well I believe woman prefer to used the money for shopping instead ^^

In Japan, gambling is not allowed by Japan's law, so you won't be able to find Casino here for amusement, but pachinko is officially not considered gambling, you can find pachinko parlor all over Japan. As of 2011, there are about 12,480 pachinko parlors in Japan! The law says you have to be 18 to play pachinko or slots, but this is rarely enforced.

Well, if you come to Osaka, give it a try at least once, and if you stay at IM Guest House in Momodani, Osaka, you can find 3 pachinko parlors near by!