From Play to Belonging: Board Game Cafes as Mediators for Social Wellness and Community Building in Japan

This study examines board game cafes as spaces of sociability and community building in urban Japan, analysing how the concepts of third place and ibasho manifest within these establishments. The research employed a three-stage ethnographic methodology in nine Tokyo board game cafes, comprising participant observation, online surveys, and interviews. The investigation focused on space design, user profiles, business models, sociability, game selection, and alignment with third place and ibasho frameworks. Findings reveal two primary strategies employed by board game cafes to cultivate an ibasho environment: the play-centred experience, encompassing ludic culture and gaming practices that promote social interaction through collaborative and party games, and the socializationcentred experience, including customer retention initiatives such as food and beverage offerings and social media engagement. Results indicate that board game cafes function beyond traditional third places, emerging as ibasho spaces that address contemporary Japanese social challenges such as isolation, loneliness, and technological dependence. This study provides comprehensive insights into how board game cafes foster community building, social inclusion, and personal growth through their operational frameworks and social initiatives, contributing to the understanding of modern urban social spaces in Japan.