
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】
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
This Mother’s Day, why not give the gift of a single, really expensive, never-picked mango?
Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
These creative, fanciful post boxes from Japan will delight you in so many ways【Photos】
Final Fantasy VII’s Sephiroth finds happiness in a canned cocktail[Video]
Sanrio amusement park in Tokyo to host Psycho Game horror event this summer[Video]
Dreaming of a metal Christmas? Osaka hotel offering heavy metal themed festive buffet
How to do an overnight bus trip to Hirosaki from Tokyo – Part 2【Photos】
Electric conveyor belt sushi kit brings the fun of a revolving sushi restaurant into your home
Sayonara Heisei Brows: Japanese makeup video takes us through an era of eyebrow beauty trends
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Japanese convenience store gives away free ice cream with creative ad at Shinjuku Station
Tsujihan sushi bowl restaurant goes viral with foreign tourists, but is it worth the hype?
7-Eleven Japan releases Uji matcha smoothies… but only at select locations
7-Eleven Japan’s cooked-in-store takoyaki is here! How does it fare against the street food king?
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’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
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
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
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home