One face of gambling in Japan...the pachinko parlor

Didn't plan to, but I had to get this photo and video up before the China reports begin.  Every country has its gambling culture, and Japan's is perhaps not so much different from many others.  Still, I continue to be amazed at scenes like this:

This is a pachinko and slot machine parlor, called Oriental Passage, which is right around the corner  from my language school.  This picture was taken at 0920 Tuesday, and yes if you look to the left of the building that is indeed a line of about 15 people waiting to get in to start their day off right.

And then there is the actual inside of the place.  Now, I like noise as much as the next guy, but wow...

So there is just a small snippet of gambling life in Japan, in a smallish area of town, not even real downtown Tokyo.


I am sure there is plenty more to see in China, so thanks for tuning in and please come back again for more!