Pachinko is an extremely popular form of small-stakes gambling. Players use a pinball-like machine to try to win pachinko balls, which can be exchanged for cheap prizes or, at nearby (semi-legal) counters, cash. The garish lights and cigarette smoke make pachinko parlors seem like Japanese low-end casinos, and they are. Jackpots are low and machines are manipulated by the parlors, but some people still try to make a living solely by playing pachinko. You’ll see lines building before 10:00 as regulars queue to claim the best machines. This guide from Tokyo’s Metropolis magazine was written by an addict and is about as instructional as any we’ve seen.