Guide · Anime and manga
Arcades and gachapon in Japan: Taito rules, capsule prices, Gachapon Kaikan hours
Taito Station bans alcohol and photos of other people; tokens stay in their store. Bandai capsules cost $1 to $5 (¥200 to ¥800), so carry coins.
Taito Station publishes its arcade rules in English: no alcohol, no photos that include other people, and tokens that stay in the store where you bought them. Bandai’s gachapon capsules cost $1 to $5 (¥200 to ¥800), most at $2 to $3 (¥300 to ¥500). Gachapon Kaikan in Akihabara last showed hours of 11:00 to 20:00 on weekdays.
This page sits in the Anime and manga hub and extends the arcade and gachapon sections of the complete guide. Dollar figures use about ¥155 to US$1 and are rounded; you pay in yen, so check the rate.
What are the manners in a Taito Station arcade?
Taito Station asks players to leave room for others. Its English visitor guide gives three manners.
- Do not block walkways or disturb other players.
- Do not play several machines at once. The guide calls it impolite.
- Keep your belongings with you.
Are alcohol and photos allowed?
Alcohol is not allowed in Taito Station. Taking photos to share is welcome, but photos that include other people are not allowed. Frame the machine, not the players around it.
Sega GiGO’s home page states no photo rule, so ask staff before you photograph there.
How do you pay: coins, e-money or tokens?
Taito Station lists three ways to pay, and tokens come with limits. The page does not say which e-money brands it accepts.
| Method | Rule |
|---|---|
| Change machine | Coins from a coin-changing machine |
| E-money | Accepted, but some stores are excluded |
| Card exchange | Card swapped for tokens at the counter; some stores excluded |
| Tokens | Stay in the store where bought |
Tokens cannot be transferred, traded, redeemed or refunded, so buy only what you will play at that branch. Ask at the counter whether the store accepts e-money or card exchange before you plan around either.
Can children and teenagers play?
Under-age entry is restricted during set hours under Japanese rules, and Taito’s page gives neither the ages nor the hours. Staff may ask for ID or a passport, guardians must stay with children, and the details vary by prefecture. Carry your passport if you travel with teenagers.
What does one play cost?
Ask staff for the price before you buy tokens or coins for a machine you have not used. Taito’s visitor guide states no price per play, so none is quoted.
The Sega GiGO home page has an English selector and a store search but states no prices, photo rules, smoking rules or age rules, and its store pages were not opened. Do not assume its rules match Taito’s. Taito’s site has English, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese and Korean versions; whether its stores carry English signage is not stated.
How do claw machines work?
Visitor guides (secondary) give three claw machine habits. Do not shake the machine. Some venues rotate players, so expect to wait for your turn. Staff will help with prize placement if you ask. None of this is on Taito’s page, so treat it as guidance, not a rule.
How much do gachapon cost?
Gachapon are capsule toys: you turn the handle and a random capsule drops. Bandai’s Gashapon brand has run since 1977 and reaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, per its official site. Bandai’s release schedule lists capsules from $1 to $5 (¥200 to ¥800), and the $2 (¥300) tier is the common one. The October 2026 schedule shows several $2 (¥300) items.
| Capsule | Price |
|---|---|
| Common | $2 to $3 (¥300 to ¥500) |
| Premium | $5 (¥800) |
| Flat capsules | $1 to $3 (¥200 to ¥500) |
| Boxed items | $4 (¥550) |
Visitor guides (secondary) say most machines take only $1 (¥100) coins, some take $1 to $3 (¥200 to ¥500) coins, and none give change. A $32 (¥5,000) note will not work. Some machines take IC cards, so look for the icon. If a capsule jams, do not force the machine; ask staff.
On a machine that takes only $1 (¥100) coins, the capsule price sets how many coins you need.
| Capsule price | Coins needed |
|---|---|
| $1 (¥200) | 2 |
| $2 (¥300) | 3 |
| $3 (¥400) | 4 |
| $3 (¥500) | 5 |
| $5 (¥800) | 8 |
Carry at least eight coins for a single premium capsule, and more for a run of turns. Bandai’s site also has a store finder, labelled in Japanese.
When is Gachapon Kaikan open?
Gachapon Kaikan’s own site last showed 11:00 to 20:00 on weekdays and 11:00 to 19:00 on Sundays and holidays. It did not list Saturday separately. The hall posts its latest hours on its X account, and a later read of the site failed, so current hours are unclear right now. Closed days were not found.
A secondary listing puts the hall at 3-15-5 Sotokanda, Chiyoda, with about 500 machines. The address and the count are unconfirmed until the hall’s own page is readable.
On the hours last shown, arrive before 19:00 on a Sunday or holiday and before 20:00 on weekdays, with time left at the machines. Saturday is not listed, so check the X account for that day.
Where next?
- Maid cafes: Maidreamin’s official fees, photo rules and booking.
- Manga shopping in Tokyo: Animate, Mandarake and the tax-free change from 1 Nov 2026.
- Akihabara for first-timers: a three hour route that includes Gachapon Kaikan.
- Nakano Broadway and Mandarake: the second-hand side of Tokyo.
- Comiket for tourists: Comiket 109 runs 29 to 31 December 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight.
- The Anime and manga hub and the complete guide cover every other stop.
Questions
Do not block walkways or disturb other players, and do not play several machines at once. Alcohol is not allowed, and photos that include other people are not allowed. Tokens stay in the store where you bought them. Staff may ask under-age players for ID or a passport.
Bandai's release schedule lists capsules from $1 to $5 (¥200 to ¥800). Most sit at $2 to $3 (¥300 to ¥500), and premium capsules cost $5 (¥800). Visitor guides say most machines take only $1 (¥100) coins and give no change.
Its own site last showed 11:00 to 20:00 on weekdays and 11:00 to 19:00 on Sundays and holidays, with Saturday not listed separately. A later read of the site failed, so current hours are unclear right now. The hall posts the latest hours on its X account.
Ask staff before you buy tokens. Taito Station's visitor guide states no price per play, and the Sega GiGO home page states no prices or rules.