It depends on the location. There are (maybe now, were) plenty of smaller arcades in standalone buildings that were under-ventilated, dimly lit, and always ridi

It depends on the location. There are (maybe now, were) plenty of smaller arcades in standalone buildings that were under-ventilated, dimly lit, and always ridiculously loud. But many others are in shopping malls (like Aeon) and have some of the same games (and many more UFO catchers) without the smoking etc. Everytime I'm back in Japan I notice more restrictions on smoking, it's obviously still highly prevalent, but most larger/newer arcades have some floors or areas where smoking is restricted. Just a tip, if you ever want to check out pachinko places, bring earplugs. To find out why, just walk in front of the automatic door, and you'll discover very quickly how much was invested in a multi-pane sound-insulating door. It's an experience.