Saitama is located outside Tokyo. And like most areas surrounding giant cities, it gets a bad rap and has earned the nickname “Dasaitama” (ダ埼玉). That’s a word play on “Saitama” and the Japanese word for uncool, “dasai” (ダサい). I’d agree if there weren’t ramshackle roadside arcades which are more than desolate and decrepit. They’re endearing.
Japanese site Daily PortalZ checked out Saitama’s 24 hour roadside arcades. The result is a bit of time warp, taking you back to a time when toasted sandwiches and lighters were sold out of vending machines, and when virtual reality was the future.
The decline in the Japanese arcade scene isn’t as noticeable in big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, where there are still huge game centres. However, when home consoles began to encroach on arcades, the impact was felt more acutely in the suburbs — or anywhere you had to drive to an arcade. It’s amazing that these arcades are still open in Saitama. They’re an example of a bygone era. They’re an example of when time just stops.
埼玉、ロードサイドの24時間ゲーセンへ [Daily PortalZ]
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