By Alex
Everyone’s been to arcades, but few—if any—can match the uniqueness of the Kawasaki Warehouse gaming center, especially for Hong Kongers. It’s likely there’s no other place like it on Earth. But if you want to visit this pilgrimage site, you’ll need to act fast, as the Kawasaki Warehouse recently announced its closure, with its final day of operation set for November 17.
▲The interior of the Kawasaki Warehouse gaming center was designed to resemble the Kowloon Walled City. (photo by negativeshikou_ @Twitter)
Located in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan—about a one-hour drive from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo—the Kawasaki Warehouse gaming center recreates the eerie, shadowy atmosphere of the former Kowloon Walled City with astonishing accuracy. Yet, for many, the real Kowloon Walled City was also once a home and a means of livelihood. Originally an electronics store, the building was repurposed into a gaming center after closing. Seeing the ample space available, the owner wanted to create a more visually striking interior and ultimately decided to model it after the internal landscape of the Kowloon Walled City. The gaming center opened in 2005 and has been around for 14 years.
▲The gaming center will close on November 17. (photo by sironeko_miiko @Twitter)
Management has not disclosed the reasons for the closure, but it’s widely believed that with the widespread popularity of home consoles and mobile games—and the lack of new titles for arcade machines—profits have become increasingly difficult to sustain. Additionally, Japan’s recent consumption tax hike from 8% to 10% is expected to further squeeze profits for a business that operates on a coin-based model (with games costing 100 yen per play).
▲(photo by sironeko_miiko @Twitter)
▲(photo by yoko00141 @Twitter)
▲(photo by ERROR_codeXXXX @Twitter)
▲(photo by kazzykazycom @Twitter)
▲(photo by urbex_34 @Twitter)
▲(photo by kazzykazycom @Twitter)
▲Even the entrance in the parking lot is uniquely designed. (photo by yoko00141 @Twitter)
▲(photo by redbull_1018 @Twitter)
▲(photo by Pao_Pao_03 @Twitter)
▲The gaming center mainly features retro arcade games. (photo by katakurik0 @Twitter)
▲(photo by yoko00141 @Twitter)
▲The Kawasaki Warehouse gaming center is also an ideal spot for cosplay photography. (photo by darkness0x0 @Twitter)
Source: SoraNews24