
Video gaming’s newest trend meets its oldest hero with co-op game at Namco’s Tokyo amusement park.
Advancements in cost-effective motion controls and head-mounted displays have led to some believing virtual reality is the next big thing in games. Meanwhile, games with modern relevance don’t get much more old-school then Namco’s Pac-Man.
Those two opposite ends of the spectrum have come together at the Namja Town indoor amusement park in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro neighborhood. In addition to its food court with a rotating lineup of anime-themed items, Namja Town is constantly dreaming up new attractions for guests to enjoy, and its latest is a virtual reality Pac-Man game that has you taking on the role of video-gaming’s original hero.
To play Pac in Town, as the MR (“mixed reality”) attraction is called, players don a Microsoft HoloLens headset, which gives them a view of a 3-D construction of a Pac-Man maze, which, of course, is stocked with dots, Power Pellets, and ghosts.
Instead of controlling a character with a joystick, players physically run about the maze, with teams of up to three members working together to clear the screen while also competing to see who can get the highest score.
Pac in Town is playable now, and will be part of the Namja Town lineup until February 28. Oh, and if all that running around gives you a real-world appetite, don’t forget that if you hop on the train for a 10-minute ride to the Shinjuku neighborhood, you can fill yourself up with some Pac-Man curry and rice.
Location information
Namja Town / ナンジャタウン
Address: Tokyo-to, Toshima-ku, Higashi Ikebukuro 3-1-3 World Import Mart Building 2nd floor
東京都豊島区 東池袋3丁目1−3 サンシャインシティ・ワールドインポートマートビル2F
Open: 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Admission: Attraction passports (required to play Pac in Town) start at 1,300 yen (US$12)
Website
Source: Namja Town via IT Media
Top image: Namja Town
Insert images: YouTube/NamcoAmusement
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he can still remember the taste of Pac-Man canned spaghetti.






Soon, you’ll be able to play Pac-Man in virtual reality for just a couple of bucks
Krispy Kreme Japan has Pac-Man donuts to celebrate video game star’s 45th birthday
Casio partners with Pac-Man for a new but vintage-looking digital watch
Four-century-old Japanese leatherworker creates stylish line of Pac-Man lacquer wallets, pouches
Power up with this positively scrumptious kakuni braised pork Pac-Man manju from Nagasaki
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
A Japanese toast sandwich remix: The toasted rice rice ball[SoraKitchen]
Japan Railways partners with Overwatch, heroes hit the Shinkansen for bullet train collaboration
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Starbucks Japan unveils new Frappuccino showcasing “mottainai” culture
What’s up with the Ghibli Park photo and video ban?
What’s it like to join Tokyo’s walking-and-talking-with-strangers club for a day?
Krispy Kreme releases a new Doughwich… at only one store in Japan
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
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】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Pac-Man rickshaw rides available for a limited time around Asakusa’s famous Senso-ji temple
Godzilla and his monstrous co-stars become desserts in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro neighborhood
Krispy Kreme releases Pac-Man doughnuts in Japan… but are they any good?
Pac-Man sake series coming to salute the video game star’s 40th birthday
PlayStation VR user finds, shares ways of peeping at panties in schoolgirl tutor game【Video】
Is Tokyo’s cool-looking Pac-Man curry as terrible-tasting as we’d heard?【Taste test】
Mario Kart makes the leap to virtual reality at new Tokyo VR entertainment center【Video】
Trying Virtual Reality for the first time at Bandai Namco’s VR Experience in Odaiba, Tokyo
Dragon Quest virtual reality attraction opens in Tokyo, and we join the adventure
Take on Godzilla yourself in virtual reality at new attractions in Osaka and Tokyo
Mr. Sato marries a handsome anime man in VR at Tokyo Game Show 2017
Why go to Tokyo Game Show 2023, when it can come to you as a VR game itself?