This truly incredible looking abandoned pachinko parlour is a place I’ve wanted to photograph since late last year, but overcast conditions were a key requirement, along with a little bit of greenery for extra colour. There was also the added necessity of waking up ready and willing to tackle a long train journey and an even longer walk. All of which finally came to fruition last week.
The trek, it turned out, was even further than anticipated, but the pachinko parlour did not disappoint. Quite the opposite in fact. It really was a sight to behold. The 28km loop to and from the train station, on the other hand, didn’t provide a whole lot of other photographic opportunities, but I did take a few pictures — most of which I’ve included here, as they were part of the day, and in many ways work well, providing something of a wider context in regards the surrounding area.
Denise says
I love the lady looking at you! 🙂
Lee says
Thanks a lot. Very happy with that one. She made the decision to walk very worthwhile.
Richard says
The parlor could be a setting for a dystopian movie! I also love the lady looking at you. Thanks for making the trek!
Lee says
I know eh? The added greenery really added to it.
And thanks. She made the decision to walk more than worth it.
Sean says
Wow, real post apocalyptic vibes! 🙂
Lee says
Yes, definitely. A very special place.
cdilla says
That is quite the location. Magnificent. What an effort to get there. I would get a taxi 🙂 but then I would have missed the best photograph of the day: The lady in the green.
Lee says
Yeah, it really is something.
Haha, thanks. Very happy with that photo. I did question my decision several times, but after getting that shot I realised I’d made the right choice.
john says
Another skateboarder amongst the topiary?
Lee says
Haha, that genuinely made me chuckle when it dawned on me what you meant.
From where I was I couldn’t say for sure, so we can happily imagine she was actually on a skateboard!
Damien says
Love this gaming-themed decay. Around Iga in Mie-ken, there are dozens and dozens of these abandoned, vine-overgrown pachinko parlours from the 80s and 90s. If you ever make it down that way Lee, maybe an e-bike or compact Toyota rental will be the way to get around the hills and plains of Iga to explore these crumbling, damp beauties. The contrast, in one’s mind, when glancing at these long-abandoned dens of after-work and weekend time-wasting is between all that noise and all those bright lights from their heyday – think rows and rows of smoking casually-attired gents and occasional obachan, their hand glued to the dial, their glazed eyes affixed to the descending ballbearings, humming fluorescent tube lighting above, vs what these places are today: silent, damp, decaying, unlit, fading, being reclaimed by the vines and grass and weeds. Japan’s Chernobyl.
Lee says
Thanks for the info. That sounds Like a trip I would thoroughly enjoy. And yes, a car for sure!
Ah, that’s such a lovely write-up. It perfectly captures the feeling of these places. The silence and all those memories…
Andrew H says
Everywhere is within walking distance if you have enough time.
Lee says
That’s so true. If it had been further I’d probably have rented a car, but very glad I made the decision to walk. Made for a more interesting and peaceful day.