
Game centers in Japan promise a treasure trove of riches for those skilled at coaxing small prizes from their crane game glass housings, but endless frustration for anyone who hasn’t had plenty of practice. If you’ve ever been to Japan, you’ve probably played a crane game or two yourself, but we have a feeling you’ve never seen something like the following Twitter users captured. Let’s take a look at 10 strange happenings at game centers across Japan.
Sometimes it seems like the game center is doing all it can to keep you away from your precious prize:
https://twitter.com/1128Sikgnygrb/status/504087508527747073Or even adds in extra obstacles (or prizes, depending on how you look at it):
UFOキャッチャーにセロハンテープあった pic.twitter.com/krc3kMdyu9
— 死んだりーたん (@romancers7) November 27, 2014
こないだ見たUFOキャッチャーの景品
— 🌿𝔬𝔰𝔴𝔞𝔩𝔡𝔨𝔲𝔰𝔥𝔯𝔞𝔟𝔟𝔦𝔱🐰 (@ghetto022) August 7, 2014
_人人 人人_
> 工具 <
 ̄Y^Y^Y^Y ̄ pic.twitter.com/hckSGOVufG
Quite often, the second place price isn’t nearly as nice as the first:
https://twitter.com/HIROOMI3_JSBTY/status/508936486691954689And it’s even possible to get a prize you never expected:
▼ We’d like to see her do that again.
https://twitter.com/ana_ame/status/492936394428260352But any long-time game center goer knows which prizes aren’t quite worth your time:
https://twitter.com/babytennisman/status/332810668589854720小倉智昭さんのヅラを落とせば景品GETのUFOキャッチャーだって pic.twitter.com/2L5OZKDIXB
— KohakuRinchan (@KohakuR) July 24, 2014
おいwwwwwインタワの伊勢エビ全部死んでるwwwwwwwwww pic.twitter.com/Af4LD2YmVm
— ↑ (@True_u3j1) March 19, 2014
Even so, sometimes the crane game gods just aren’t going to let you go home with anything, no matter how good you are:
UFOキャッチャーでしがみつくオラフ
— あんどういずみ (@zzziiiuuu123) November 12, 2014
しぶとい…
まぁGETしちゃいましたけど! pic.twitter.com/Febh9Z1TQ8
UFOキャッチャーに凄いモノが出てる! pic.twitter.com/vSGOmun2DP
— 錦汰 (@Junwade) May 3, 2014
Fight on Crane Game Heros! You’ll get that grand prize one day!
Souce: Naver Matome

Man loses 200 times at crane game, calls police to investigate, staff member loses 300 times too
A literally game-breaking technique to win at Japan’s UFO catcher crane games【Video】
World record set for most crane games in one arcade with new game center in Tokyo
Crane game adds next-level sense of urgency with a disturbing Curious George display
How many prizes can you win from Japanese arcade crane games with 10,000 yen?【Experiment】
What’s up with the “mosquito buzz” noise at Shibuya Station?
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
A visit to the oldest Yoshinoya chain in Japan for one last beef bowl before it closes for good
Look cool at the pool with these new waterproof over-knee socks
Five Okinawan foods that have changed our reporter’s view on local cuisine forever
Underwater Knee High Girls appear in new exhibition celebrating soft thighs and kaiju monsters
Burger King Japan launches King Fusion, and the possibilities are endless (and delicious)
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Studio Ghibli croquettes not to eat, but to keep your stuff in, going on sale in Japan[Photos]
Pokémon hot spring footbath opening in Japan this spring
Secret staff cafeteria in Tokyo is a hidden gem you won’t find in travel guides
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Lawson adds UFO Catcher crane games to convenience stores in Japan
Japanese UFO catcher prizes just keep getting weirder…
Win real, natural gemstones at Saitama game center, which boasts over 300 crane games!【Video】
Crane games in Japanese convenience stores getting more and more popular, especially with tourists
Hurl Obscenities at the Crane Game from the Comfort of Your Own Home! Online Remote UFO Catcher Opened
Landmark Akihabara arcade Adores is the latest Tokyo game center to go out of business
Japanese crane game serves up actual slices of cake – and we got some!【Photos】
Tokyo’s newest crane game prize is prized pears from west Japan, and you’re guaranteed to win
Cloud Catcher is a real Japanese crane game with real prizes that you play through your phone
Japanese arcade owner arrested for allegedly rigging crane games to be unwinnable
Shinjuku arcade breaks Guinness World Record for having the most crane games
Taiwanese crane games with bikini women inside spark controversy【Video】
Toy guns won from crane games all over Japan could be used as real guns, warn police
Can monkeys win at Japanese crane games? Experiment attempts to find out【Video】
We beat two crane games at a Japanese arcade and take home two lucky bags
Sega creates mini UFO catcher crane game with electric arm for Japanese magazine