Experience

Pachinko is the most famous as well as the most popular gambling regardless of age or sex in Japan. You won't miss pachinko parlors near stations or in downtown area because they are garish and noisy.
As you see in the picture, pachinko is like a vertical pinball but highly controlled by computers.

>> How to Play

To start the game, you put money into the machine right next to the pachinko machine.
Usually, the machine accepts thousand-yen bills.

Then you push the button saying "lending balls" to get your balls. I'm afraid that it says only in Japanese, you can just try pushing buttons there.

After your balls came out, you try to put the balls into the hole located at the center of the pachinko machine by adjusting the strength to push balls with the handle at bottom right.

When balls flow into the center hole, the center screen starts changing.
The system is like a slot machine. You will get more balls when you get the same three pattern on the screen.
The slot on the screen is controlled by computer.

When you are out of balls, you lose.
When you get many balls, you can exchange them with stuff (snack, tabacco, CD, CD player) or money.