Anata no Warehouse, The Former Japanese Full-Sized Arcade Game Place

Anata no Warehouse (あなたのウェアハウス, Your Warehouse), also known as Warehouse Kawasaki, was a dystopian 5-floor themed arcade in Kawasaki, Japan, but this was no ordinary destination for full-sized arcade games. About a 10-minute walk from Kawasaki Station, its theme was designed after Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong, a former Chinese military port. This city was basically lawless and was demolished in 1994. The designers of Anata no Warehouse truly went above and beyond to make guests feel like they were transported to a completely different city in a matter of a few steps inside. Best of all, admission was free.

While most places have to make their establishments look clean, Anata no Warehouse was made to look dirty in contrast! The designers even went as far as to import trash from Hong Kong and implement them into the structure. Even the restrooms appeared intentionally filthy! If you are a fan of the cyberpunk genre, then this was definitely the place for you! The arcade operated for a decade from 2009 until November 17, 2019, citing the reason for its closure due to unknown problems regarding the arcade’s building’s landlord. It served as a haven for many nostalgic adults to once again enjoy many of the games they grew up with decades ago. In fact, the full-sized arcade game place was reserved for people ages 18 and up only. 

Each floor of Anata no Warehouse had its own distinct theme. Upon entering the building, visitors were greeted with a cooling atmosphere in contrast to what might be a sweltering summer day, finding themselves in a dark alleyway with red neon signs. There was also a pond with stepping stones leading up to a door to the parking structure, complete with a rather harrowing atmosphere. From there guests can take the escalator to the second floor. 

The second floor was full of not only arcade games, but UFO catchers as well! For those who may not already know, UFO catchers are vastly similar to claw machines that you might see in American arcades, restaurants, and bowling alleys. However, the chances of successfully obtaining a prize vary more on skill than a claw machine, which are essentially luck-based. Some of the games included Dance, Dance, Revolution There was also a vending machine for drinks.

On the third floor, there were slot machines and pachinkos. These machines are used for gambling so it’s no surprise that they can be incredibly addictive. You could also get a great view of the second floor from up there. Both the second and the third floors seemed to serve as the main attractions of the entire arcade. You also may have noticed by judging from any photos or videos that this floor doesn’t look so much like Kowloon City. From this floor up the theming looks more like a creepy hotel. 

In order to play games on the 4th floor, an annual membership was required. The membership was only ¥300 ($2.64 USD). What a steal! Once acquired, you could pay to play pool, darts, or table tennis, so perhaps if you needed a break from the arcade games or the gambling, you could come up here.  

The 5th and final floor was simply an Internet cafe. You could pay to use one of the computers for ¥300 for half an hour, but what made it truly neat were the Greek Roman statues that resided on this floor.  Can you think of any other arcade where you could see one of these? Perhaps at The Getty, but we are gamers, not art historians! Better yet, you could even get a massage. Honesty, who wouldn’t like getting one of those while reading your favorite blog? 

It’s truly a shame that Anata no Warehouse is no more. While it may be gone, its legacy is certainly not forgotten. It was certainly a special place for not only arcade gaming and pachinko otakus, but a great tourist attraction and a must-see for anyone who was visiting the city of Kawasaki. Would you have liked to visit this place and experience its full-sized arcade games? Have you actually had the privilege to see the Kawasaki Warehouse for yourself? We would love to hear your thoughts!

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