
Metal doors, steel tunnels, neon lights, rust everywhere—the end of the world never looked so cool.
Even if you’ve never heard of Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong, you’ve seen its influence. Ghost in the Shell, Bladerunner, Shenmue, and so many more movies and video games got their aesthetic inspiration from this now-demolished city.
Not many pictures exist of Kowloon Walled City before its demolition in 1993, but here you can see the outside of the walled city, and a rare glimpse of sunlight from within it.

And if you ever wanted to visit the city that inspired sci-fi for decades to come, you don’t need a time machine anymore: in Japan’s Kawasaki City, the Kawasaki Warehouse arcade is designed after Kowloon Walled City, bringing it back to life in all of its metallic dystopian glory.
We’ve seen pictures of the Kawasaki Warehouse arcade before, but YouTube channel beatdownboogie recently posted a video giving a tour of the arcade, so you can see all of the cyber-liciousness for yourself.
Watch the full video here, or scroll down for highlights.
▼ You know that when the outside of the building looks like this,
and no one under 18 is allowed in, you’re in for an awesome time.
▼ After going through the heavy front doors, you get a metal tunnel…
▼ …leading you to an ominous-looking octagon.
▼ Oh yes. My cyberpunk heart is swooning so hard right now.
▼ And of course you have to cross a pool of acid…
but wait, didn’t we say this was an arcade?
▼ Oh. My. God.
My cyberpunk heart has officially cyber-melted.
▼ The grunge. The posters plastered everywhere. The Chinese lights.
…do they offer monthly live-in plans?
▼ I feel like I should be searching for a martial arts master
while being chased by riot police with my hologram sidekick.
▼ Just steer clear of the bathrooms if possible.
Unless you’re looking for that super authentic experience.
If you’re in Japan and you’re a fan of the dystopian sci-fi aesthetic, then you owe it to yourself to visit Kawasaki Warehouse for the experience of a lifetime. Even if you’re not in Japan and you’re a fan, then you may want to start saving up those credits for a transport over there.
And if you want to see more videos of cool spots in Japan, check out beatdownboogie’s YouTube channel. Here’s a sample of their trip to Shinjuku’s Robot Restaurant, which is just as intensely sci-fi as the Kowloon City arcade, but in a much more colorful way.
Source/insert images: YouTube/beatdownboogie
Featured/top image: YouTube/beatdownboobie (Edited by RocketNews24)










Japan’s craziest, most terrifying video game arcade is going out of business【Photos】
One last visit to Japan’s craziest, scariest video game arcade: Warehouse Kawasaki【Photos】
Japanese video game arcade entrance takes visitors on an adventure from the front door【Video】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
Deer that appeared in downtown Osaka gets a new home, a new name, and a lot of snacks[Video]
Famous koi ponds overwhelmed with tourists throwing thousands of coins in them
How to take your home ramen to the next level by making your own chashu pork in a frying pan
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
A six-year-old smashed the previous limbo skating record, in case you wanted to know
The secret of Starbucks Japan’s Chocolate Chunk Cookie: It’s not made by Starbucks!
Gene Kelly inspires short anime from Japan, captures hearts around the world
This regional pizza buffet offers so many flavors you won’t be able to try them all
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
Tokyo’s best museum for foreign travelers finally reopens after being closed for four years
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
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
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
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