How to win at crane games (UFO catchers)
HOSHIMORI RINKA · 3810 PRODUCTIONCrane games are an Akiba must! Here's how they work, the basic moves, and my honest advice: set a budget and don't be shy about asking staff.
BASICS
How to play
- Check the price on the machine. Most are ¥100 per play; many give a bonus play when you insert ¥500. Some cost ¥200 or more.
- Change and cashless. Arcades have change machines. The big chains (GiGO, Taito Station) also take Suica/PASMO and QR payments at the machine.
- Pick your prize first. You can't swap a prize after winning it. If you want a different colour or character, ask staff before you play.
- Leftover credits. At Taito, credits left after you win can be moved to another machine — ask staff.
MOVES
Four basic moves
Grab (つかむ)
Lift the prize straight out. Works on light, soft plush.Shift (ずらす)
Nudge a box little by little toward the hole.Push (押す)
Use the arm to push a prize over the edge.Hook (ひっかける)
Catch a tag, loop or edge with a claw tip.The "bridge" (橋渡し): a box resting on two bars. Tip one end down between the bars with one claw, then the other, until it slips through. Sega's official prize site has step-by-step guides.
TRUTH
The honest part
Some machines won't grip hard at first. It is widely said that some machines are set so the arm only gets strong after a certain number of plays or amount spent. Japanese rules cap a crane prize's retail value at about ¥1,000, but they don't regulate how hard a machine is. Decide your budget before you start.
Stuck? Ask the staff. Staff often move the prize to an easier spot or give you a hint. Taito says so officially: "行き詰まったらヘルプいたします" (we'll help if you get stuck).
ARCADES
Arcades with crane floors
| Arcade | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GiGO Akihabara 2 / 3 / 5📍Map | 10:00–23:30 | IC cards, e-money and QR payments. Building 3 has a collab café and the RETRO:G floor |
| SILK HAT Akihabaraシルクハット📍Map | 10:00–24:00 | Opened Nov 2025 on the former GiGO 1 site. B1F–8F |
| Taito Station Akihabara📍Map | 10:00–23:30 | Cashless payment |
| Taito Station East-West Passage東西自由通路店📍Map | 10:00–23:30 | Inside the station passage |
| Hey (Taito)📍Map | 10:00–23:30 | 1F–4F |
| namco Akihabara📍Map | 10:00–23:00 | B1F–5F, with the Gashapon no Department on 4F |
Age rules: under-16s must leave by 18:00 unless with a guardian, and under-18s by 22:00.
Checked 2026-09-30 on: National Police Agency interpretation standards (2026-07-01), JAIA prize guideline, Taito "how to" guide and store pages, GiGO store pages, SEGA Plaza, SILK HAT, Bandai Namco Amusement. Hours and prices change — check each shop's own page before you go.