Taito Station

An abandoned Taito Station arcade in Tokyo stands as a symbol of shifting social habits and a changing city. Once packed with noise, lights, and teenagers crowding around fighting games and claw machines, it’s now dark, empty, and ignored. What used to be a social hub is fading—both physically and culturally.

Young people in Tokyo aren’t hanging out in arcades the way they used to. Many are choosing their phones over in-person interaction. Messaging apps, games, and virtual spaces feel safer, more convenient, and less draining than face-to-face communication. Socializing through screens lets people control the pace, tone, and exposure of interaction—something increasingly valued in a society where anxiety and burnout are on the rise.

At the same time, the neighbourhoods around these places are changing. Family-run shops are being replaced with chain stores or vacant lots. Rents climb, residents move out, and the tight-knit communities that once gave Tokyo’s side streets their character begin to dissolve. The silence of a shuttered arcade isn’t just about business—it’s about disconnection. What used to be public gathering spots are disappearing, not just because of economics, but because the need for them is being redefined.

Sad, isn’t it ?