
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
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Pokémon hot spring footbath opening in Japan this spring
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Almost all Japanese women say they dislike random gacha/blind-box toys in survey
Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum is crazy strong, can easily carry creatures twice his body weight
Hana Komon: Japan’s beautiful, samurai-style floral birthday crests
Japan’s Top 10 Scenic Train Trips–according to two “densha otaku” train guides
You can now buy a Japanese train station clock in Japan
McDonald’s and Gundam team up for customized anime mecha and fried chicken sandwiches[Video]
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
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
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
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
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
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
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?