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Better late than never!

Imagine my suprise when Mrs. Cheapy suggested we hit up The Xbox 360 Lounge this weekend. It was part of a trip to Harajuku, which is one of Tokyo's trendy shopping districts, as well as home to their goth/cosplay scene. The 360 lounge is closing on February 12th, so we just made it before Microsoft closes its doors.

Click images for larger size

Harajuku - More pictures from Google Images



Exterior of Xbox 360 Lounge



The couches appear on your left when you first enter the Lounge. DOA4 (with 2 Hori sticks) and Ninety-Nine Nights were playable. A table in the back left corner is setup with free internet access. The standing kiosks had playable versions of Wrestle Kingdom, NBA Live 2006, Kameo, Ninety-Nine Nights, Project Gotham Racing 3, and 2 with [eM] -eNCHANT arM-. Check out the giant 360 Guide button protruding from the ceiling.


You can see the the bar area here which is where we ordered up a 360 Cake (420¥) & 360 Yogurt Drink (360¥), which was Kiwi flavored. Like almost every food I've had in Japan, they were quite good.
I took home two of those 360 coasters


Of course there were a few Xbox 360 related items available for sale. They had coffee cups, pins, t-shirts and mousepads, none of which were very interesting.


There were many custom faceplates on display. I didn't photograph all of them, but here are the highlights. After I took the group faceplate photo, the hostess told Mrs. Cheapy that photographs were not allowed. Luckily, I was already finished with my pictures, so I just smiled and said sumimasen (excuse me) as I hit the save button on my phone camera and walked out the door.


As you can see, the 360 Lounge is a pretty cool place. I guess if I have two complaints it would be:
1) Not enough kiosks
2) No merchandise worth buying

O_o looks sexy

What'd you think of Harajuku? I couldn't believe the ammount of crepes stores that were in that area. I guess it's the trendy food down in that section of Tokyo. Didn't try any crepes. Should of but went with Coco Curry House instead.

They're closing that place down huh? I thought it was part of Microsoft's strategy to get more Japanese people interested in the 360? I guess since the system took a big old belly flop they figured they'd close up shop. I wonder what will happen to all that stuff. I can just imagine J. Allerd putting that guide button in his house.

I'm starting to think Mrs. Cheapy doesn't actually exist.

thanks for the images....why are they closing?

Not enough consoles in the lounge? In Japan? Who are they trying to kid?

I kinda want that faceplate with the silver studs and heart on it.. my girlfriend's getting a 360 soon (all because of hexic) and she wants something like that.

I definately want that 360 mousepad.

Originally Posted by thorbahn3 They're closing that place down huh? I thought it was part of Microsoft's strategy to get more Japanese people interested in the 360? I guess since the system took a big old belly flop they figured they'd close up shop. I wonder what will happen to all that stuff. I can just imagine J. Allerd putting that guide button in his house.

It was only temporary in the first place... They actually kept it open longer than they planned originally.

It is a shame that the longue probably did not nothing for the 360's sales.

After I took the group faceplate photo, the hostess told Mrs. Cheapy that photographs were not allowed. Luckily, I was already finished with my pictures, so I just smiled and said sumimasen (excuse me) as I hit the save button on my phone camera and walked out the door.

Obviously, Microsoft wants no photo evidence that this Japan debacle ever existed.

Wow...that cake looks pretty good. How big is the "lounge" compared to the Nintendo store in NYC CheayD? Which one did you like better?

Originally Posted by maxg What'd you think of Harajuku? I couldn't believe the ammount of crepes stores that were in that area. I guess it's the trendy food down in that section of Tokyo. Didn't try any crepes. Should of but went with Coco Curry House instead.

Harajuku is pretty cool, but I am not really into trendy clothing stores. Plus, it was pretty cold that day. No, we didn't have any crepes, but I have been to CoCo Ichiban many times!

Originally Posted by Scorch I definately want that 360 mousepad.

The mousepad kind of sucked. It had some kind of clear gel inside with "floating" 360 logos, so it wasn't completely flat. I don't think it would make for a quality mousepad.

Originally Posted by ananag112 Wow...that cake looks pretty good. How big is the "lounge" compared to the Nintendo store in NYC CheayD? Which one did you like better?

Yes, the cake was pretty good!
I prefer the Nintendo Store. Not only is the store physically bigger (with more playable kiosks), when the weather is nice Nintendo has events outside in Rockefeller Center. Also, there is a much wider selection of merchandise available in the Nintendo Store (many of which is reasonably priced). I guess the only thing the Nintendo Store is lacking is food and drink service (although they do have Nintendo bottled watter).

Haha, I like the faceplate that says "Console"! Also the 360 cake thing looks so yummy!

Originally Posted by CheapyD I prefer the Nintendo Store. Not only is the store physically bigger (with more playable kiosks), when the weather is nice Nintendo has events outside in Rockefeller Center. Also, there is a much wider selection of merchandise available in the Nintendo Store (many of which is reasonably priced). I guess the only thing the Nintendo Store is lacking is food and drink service (although they do have Nintendo bottled watter).

speaking of outdoor events at the nintendo store, here is a couple pics of my friend getting excited while meeting mario and luigi

Yes, the cake was pretty good! I prefer the Nintendo Store. Not only is the store physically bigger (with more playable kiosks), when the weather is nice Nintendo has events outside in Rockefeller Center. Also, there is a much wider selection of merchandise available in the Nintendo Store (many of which is reasonably priced). I guess the only thing the Nintendo Store is lacking is food and drink service (although they do have Nintendo bottled watter).

I bought the Nintendo water bottle the last time I was there.

I thought the Nintendo store was pretty small. From pictures I saw, I thought this place was bigger. Maybe its just because I always skip the Pokemon place and go directly up to play the GameCube games?

Some pretty cool stuff there Cheapy, too bad there shutting it down. I guess you can't say that Microsoft didn't put any effort into the Japanese 360 launch.

Originally Posted by ananag112 I bought the Nintendo water bottle the last time I was there. I thought the Nintendo store was pretty small. From pictures I saw, I thought this place was bigger. Maybe its just because I always skip the Pokemon place and go directly up to play the GameCube games?

The downstairs at the Nintendo Store is not just Pokemon, they have a GBA and DS area too.

Yo Cheapy what are you gonna do with the Coasters , sell them on ebay????

I like how the sit-down stations have Pioneer plasma TVs whereas the stand-up kiosks have Samsung LCD TVs with the bezel covered up.

The Hori sticks for DOA4 are a nice touch as well.

Originally Posted by Ikohn4ever speaking of outdoor events at the nintendo store, here is a couple pics of my friend getting excited while meeting mario and luigi

I was waiting for you to post those eventually !!!!