Crane game tips: how to win prizes in Japan
Japanese crane games (UFO catchers) are not like the claw machines you may know at home. Most of them are skill games: the prize sits on a carefully arranged setup, and you win by moving it a little with each play until it drops. Here is how they work and how to improve your odds.
Read the setup before you pay
Look at how the prize is placed. The most common setups are:
- Bridge (hashi-watashi). A boxed prize rests across two bars. You push or tilt one end at a time so the box slowly turns and slips between the bars. Aim for the corners and ends of the box, not the middle.
- Pusher and pillars. The prize stands on posts or a shelf. Use the claw to push, drag or tip it toward the hole rather than trying to lift it.
- Hook and ring. Some prizes hang from a ring or have a tag loop. Hooking the claw through the loop can pull them off.
- Takoyaki. A ball sits on a board full of holes. Get it into the right hole to win.
- Grab-and-lift. For small plush and sweets in a pile, the claw does lift things, but the grip is weak, so look for prizes near the hole or leaning on the edge.
Watch someone else play
If someone is playing, watch how the claw moves and how strong it is. The claw on many machines grips firmly as it closes, then loosens as it rises. You can learn a lot before spending anything.
Use the multi-play discount
Many machines give one extra play when you insert ¥500 instead of ¥100 (for example, 6 plays for ¥500). If you plan to try more than a few times, it is cheaper.
Ask the staff
Staff will move a prize back to a winnable position if it gets stuck, and many arcades will reset or adjust it for you after you have tried for a while. Press the call button on the machine or catch a staff member. Pointing at the prize and saying "onegaishimasu" is enough.
Set a budget
A big prize can take ¥1,000–¥3,000 or more, depending on the setup and your luck. Decide your limit before you start. Remember that crane game prizes are not sold in stores. That is part of the fun, and also why it is easy to keep going.
Know what you are playing for
New prizes arrive at arcades every week, and each arcade chooses its own lineup. Check this month's prizes before you go, so you know which ones are worth hunting for.