Ottawa just got a new claw-machine arcade that'll make you feel like you're in Japan

If you're a fan of the revolutionary technology that is the claw machine, come close as you're going to want to hear this. Ottawa has its very own new Japanese-style claw-machine arcade: Claw World.

This new Ottawa arcade is now open in the St. Laurent Shopping Centre, and it'll make you feel like you've taken a flight across the Pacific and landed in Japan.

There's just something about cautiously navigating a joystick-controlled claw over a sea of toys and carefully selecting that one doe-eyed plushie that's calling out to you. That exact feeling of claw-machine euphoria is probably why these arcades are all the rage in Japan. In fact, they're so common that you can find them in all sorts of places over there.

Here in North America, however, we're used to claw machines that are inherently "rigged." If you're like me, you probably have memories of trying to traverse that claw machine in the corner of your local bowling alley. Also, like me, you probably have the subsequent memory of leaving with empty pockets and not a single prize to show for it. It's hard to imagine a whole country falling in love with that kind of experience.

But no, in Japan, claw machines are an institution that believes in the importance of fairness! And get ready for some even better news because you don't even have to go to the other side of the planet to experience a "real" claw machine.

Japanese-style claw machine arcades are taking the great white north by storm. They're popping up all over the country in cities like Montreal and Toronto. And now, Ottawa too has its very own claw-machine arcade on the third floor of St. Laurent Shopping Centre. Claw World opened back in May, and it's the capital's newest hidden gem.

Only a short walk from the St-Laurent O-Train station, you'll find the little corner of Japan that they call Claw World. Upon entry, you'll notice the vibrant neon lights and rows and rows of various claw machines.

Most machines cost about four tokens to use, which isn't too bad considering that winning prizes on these machines is much easier than on a conventional North American claw machine. The machines are incredibly easy to use, and by the end of the day, you'll likely have an impressive haul of plushies and other treasures to show for your hard work.

To start off, $20 will get you 31 tokens if you're a member, or 22 tokens if you're not. If you're on a date, $50 will get you 88 tokens to split between you if you're a member and 68 if you're not.

If you decide to roll up with the entire squad, you might want to consider splitting $90 worth of tokens among yourselves, as you'll get 177 tokens if you're a member (158 if you're not). It only costs an additional one-time payment of $3 to become a VIP member, so it's pretty much a no-brainer. Plus, if you show up to Claw World on your birthday, members are given a plushie on the house!

Once you have those shiny tokens in an arcade-provided plastic bowl, it's time to grab your rolling shopping basket to prepare to collect your winnings. That way you don't have to worry about dropping any of your new plushie friends and can effortlessly make your way around the arcade without having your hands full.

After you've spent a while going from claw machine to claw machine and started to rack up quite a collection of adorable and precious toys, you might be wondering how you're going to get them all home. Thankfully, Claw World provides departing visitors with a large plastic bag equipped with rope backpack-like straps to allow your new friends a safe passage to their new home.