Get Your Game Face on – Spocha, Japan’s Family-Friendly Sports and Gaming Entertainmant

Jan 29, 2024

Get Your Game Face on – Spocha, Japan’s Family-Friendly Sports and Gaming Entertainmant

Do you love sports but rarely have a chance to play? Perhaps you’ve never swung a bat or tossed a ball in anger and always wanted to try. It could be that you love video games and singing, and you can’t choose which to do. Or just maybe you want to run around, sing, dance, play games, eat snacks, and have a few beers with friends or family all at the same time. Well, it sounds like ‘spocha’ is the place for you.

The name is a portmanteau of “sports” and “challenge,” and spocha establishments offer a wide range of recreational and sports-related activities under one roof. It essentially provides a one-stop destination for entertainment and recreation, throwing together the elements of sports, gaming, and socializing. Importantly, spocha complexes aim to create an inclusive and enjoyable environment for people of all ages and skill levels, whether they are sports enthusiasts, families looking for a day out, or groups of friends wanting to have a crack at various activities under one roof.

So, what can you do at spocha?

Well, the question is probably more like ‘what can’t you do?’ Just as how Japanese restaurants are fond of the all-you-can-eat-and-drink models, spocha can be an all-you-can-play thing, where you can step into batting cages to refine your baseball skills, take on friends in bowling competitions or segway races, and get knocked around in bubble soccer. For those with a love for golf, Spo-cha often features indoor golf facilities equipped with virtual courses and simulators. You can even ride a bucking bronco!

For those with a less energetic desire, the fun extends to arcade gaming areas with a diverse selection of video games, while if you want to exercise your vocal chords you can take advantage of the private karaoke rooms, allowing you to unleash your inner diva or rockstar.

How to play

First of all you have to pay at the front desk upon entering. You can purchase time in either ‘one game,’ ‘two games’ or ‘all day’ packs, with the latter particularly recommended. Once you have been issued a pass (a wristband with a barcode), just head over to the Spocha part of the complex and keep your bands on in case the staff asks to check them. The sports areas are on a first-come-first-serve basis and you may need to wait your turn by signing on a form next to the different areas at some locations. You can find more information on this PDF. When you’re all done, just go back to the counter and hand back your wristbands. If there are any other charges (other amusements or food) you’ll need to pay them at that time.

Where to play

The biggest and best known spocha complexes in Aichi are at Round One (you’ve possibly seen them: big red buildings, often with a large bowling pin on top). There are a number of them around the prefecture, and different stores have different activities available, so it is best to check their websites before embarking to make sure they have the games you want to play. The Round One stores that are most convenient for Nagoya are:

Nishiharu (map)
Nakagawa (map)
Chikusa (map)

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All images from https://www.round1.co.jp/shop/tenpo/aichi-nakagawa1.html