If you've been following our series of Originals, then you'll have seen Brandon heading to Akihabara earlier this year. It's a bona fide retro gaming valhalla in Tokyo, Japan, with a treasure trove of goodies for gamers to find. Gamers venture from all over the world to Akihabara, and when they're not searching every nook and cranny to find bargains or rare items, they can stop to play some arcade games and immerse themselves in pure nostalgia.
Back in July of this year, word reached us that GiGO were closing their fantastic arcade in Akihabara. As mentioned by Sora News 24, the famous building has been an arcade since 1992 when it opened as High-tech Land Sega Shintoku. It's been an arcade in some shape or form for the past 33 years, and thankfully, that reign is continuing with the new owners, Matahari Entertainment, and their Silk Hat arcade brand.
\\\外観完成しました✨///
— シルクハット秋葉原 (@SILKHAT_Akiba) November 19, 2025
11月22日（土）いよいよオープンです🔥
そこで…😏
【問題です】﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
2枚目の画像に五角形は何個あるでしょうか？
答えは明日っ🙌#silkhattokyo pic.twitter.com/vFvWBdrBrz
Yes, GiGO might have left, but Silk Hat Akihabara opened 2 days ago in the same building, an arcade set over 9 floors with over 1,600 meters of floor space, with different themes for arcade games, consoles, crane games, and more on each level. It's a short walk from Akihabara station, which means it's incredibly easy for travellers to find, and continues to look to the past with its motto of 'We love Akihabara – Since 1992 to be continued.'
In keeping with the general theme of Akihabara, it's going to be a one-stop shop for arcade gaming history. But not only that, Matahari Entertainment and the Silk Hat brand want to invite gamers old and new through their doors to experience both classic and new arcade titles, bringing back the sights, sounds, thrills, and spilled drinks of the arcade era that I get when I look at this LEGO arcade hall.
Let's hope that Silk Hat continues the important work that Sega started 33 years ago (when I was 2 years old!) and maintains the recent fanbase that GiGO have built up, keeping arcade gaming thriving in Tokyo for years to come!
