First, determine the type of parlor you're in (Card Reader or Direct Cash).
The CR vending machines will take larger notes. Here, you purchase a pre-charged card in either 1000, 2000, 3000, 5000 or 10000円.
(pic of CR vender here)

The next thing is to find the machine you want to play. This is the tough part. There are lots of schools of thought for this, 1,000s of magazines and other publications, classes, tapes, etc.. are available to figure this out. Way too deep for me to get into here!
In older times, you needed to study how the balls are affected by the angle of the pins and be able to 'read' them in the parlor. Nowadays, this isn't as critical. Some of the Digital machines have very few pins and only play down the left side because the video screen and animatronics are so large. (pic of older and newer cel face here)
You can find out how well a machine has been doing by checking the ? Board in the parlor. This has some stats of the machines in the parlor like ? (pick of tote board)
Another way is to check the Battle Counter over each machine. This is more than just a flashy light unit. It contains a 3-5 day record of what the machine's been doing like(pics of battle counters)
Number of bonuses, frequency of bonuses, highest payout, number of starts, etc... If a machine has gone a while without a bonus, it may be due. If it just did not that long ago, it may be a while before it does again. Some battle counters are very elaborate, giving more info than you may know what to do with!

That done, go ahead, have a seat!

 If the parlor is the CR type: Take your card and insert it in the Card Reader or CR Ball Loan Device to the left of the pachinko machine(pic here). Credits either appear on a display on the pachinko machine itself (CR Unit) or on the CR Ball Loan Device. On the CR type, pressing the ball loan button on the pachinko machine will cause the pachinko machine to dispense 1 credit worth of balls directly into the shooter tray. The other button ejects the card from the CR Unit.
(pics of buttons)
A small spring is attached for you to put your empty CR card in to be collected by the parlor attendants.
On the CR Ball Loaner, credits are listed on the unit itself and there are several buttons for dispensing various numbers of credits (pic here).

There are 3 styles of Ball Loan Devices. The older style takes 100円 and 500円 coins. Then newest only take 1000円 notes.
The first has a small vertical chute that you cup your hand under and press upwards, dispensing the balls into your hand.
The next style has the vertical chute and a trough arm that reaches to the shooter tray. You can stop the ball flow by tipping the arm up or out towards you.
The third is simply a cash machine, connected to the pachinko machine. When money is inserted and a credit amount is pressed, it tells the pachinko machine to dispense the balls from itelf into the shooter tray (just like a payout).

The ball loan rate is 4円 per ball.

Actual play is rather easy. Place your right hand on the shooter knob, being sure to make physical contact with the metal or metal plated ring. The shooter will not shoot unless your touching this. Twist the knob clockwise will start the shooter, firing a ball approximately every second. The farther to the right you turn the knob, the harder the balls are fired into the playfield (the farther to the right). When the knob is turned, a small button about where your thumb is will pop out. Pressing this will stop the shooter, allowing you to stop shooting while maintaining where the balls will be shot. This can be important.

The main idea is to shoot for the starter pocket, usually directly center, bottom of the center feature, to get the 'reels' to spin. You can stock 4 spins. This is where the 'thumb' button comes in handy. Any other ball into the start pocket after 4 stocked spins only gets you a small win, better to stop shooting and wait for a couple spins to retire. There is also a 'pass through' (PT) pocket, usually on the upper left side ( if there is another on the right, it usually doesn't do anything), that stocks a sub-roulette spin. Somewhere on the face of the cell is an 'X' and an 'O' or a red and a green LED with 4 other LED's near it. When a ball goes through the PT pocket, the red and green or X and O will flash alternately. If it stops on the O or green, the wings above the start pocket will open momentarily (very fast!), making it easier to get a ball into the start, but not much. It's mostly a matter of luck. If it's an X or red, nothing happens. You can stock 4 sub-roulette spins (other 4 LEDS). There will also be four other pockets located at the bottom edge of the cell (location varys). These pay out around 10 balls (cell specs vary).

During a spin, anything out of the ordinary (sounds, lights, video) from a normal spin indicates the potential for a "Reach", or a matching of at least 2 numbers/charactors and possibly the third. There are some (varies from game to game) that signal a better chance of this than others. If two alike are matched (usually the outer ones), you might hear a voice saying what sounds like 'Nichie', but in reality they're saying 'Reach'. Some reaches are rather simple and others are more elaborate, requiring interation on your part for a win. On the newer games, there is a 'Chance' button that will light when you are required to push it. Sometimes, an indication will appear on the video screen.

If, by a miracle (it will seem like it sometimes!), you match 3, you win! The large door at the bottom of the playfield will open. You need to shoot balls into this (not hard, but not entirely easy either!).  You will be able to get 10 balls in before the door closes and you proceed to the next round. Bonuses usually go for 15 rounds. Some nice music plays and video plays on the screen. Potential wins from a bonus are from 1800-2250+ balls.

Odd numbers (red) are better than even numbers (blue). If you get a bonus with odd numbers, your chance of another bonus increases ten-fold (example - 391:1 - 39.1:1). If another bonus occurs with odd numbers, you continue in this cycle. This could potentially go on for a long time (that's why you see some players with a lot of boxes of balls behind them, an incentive for others to keep playing!). If the bonus is with even numbers, this cycle ends. There is also a 100 spin chance round.?

In this type of game, there are 3 pockets at the bottom of the playfield. The two outer pockets are labeled either 'One' or '1' and the center pocket is labeled either 'Two' or '2'.
Placing a ball in the outer pockets causes the 'wings' on either side of the center feature to open once briefly (seems very briefly!). A ball in the center pocket opens them twice. Somewhere in the center is a wheel or a pocket with a 'V' on it. The ball needs to enter the center when the wings are open and then enter this 'V' to obtain a bonus round. If your lucky (yeah, it's all skill!) enough to get one in at the right time, you win! 'V' for Victory! On some games, you get a chance at a bonus of 5. 9 or 15 rounds. This is random. During the bonus, the wings open a lot and longer. Fire balls in as fast as possible. Each round is 10 balls into the wings. For the bonus round to continue, a ball must land in the 'V' during each round. If not, it's over.

The limit to how much you can win is determined more by 'skill' than luck (the computer). As long as the balls land in the 'V' spot you win, no hoping some numbers match up.

Plastic trays are provided by the parlor because the machine won't hold very many without stopping and giving you a warning to empty the overflow tray. Place the plastic tray under the overflow tray and move the lever to empty it (located differently on all machines). Most trays hold about 2000 balls. If you need more trays, signal an attendant, if one hasn't already shown up. If your doing really well, they will place them behind you to show others, 'Yes it is possible to win!'.

In some parlors, after certain types of bonuses, you are required to stop playing and the machine is closed.
Also in some parlors, you are not allowed to play the machine with the balls you have won.

In the event you need to use the restroom or are hungry, you can place a pack of cigarettes, your cell phone, or other item in the shooter tray, or an attendant will place a sign on the machine, reserving it for up to 30 minutes. After that time, an attendant will remove the item and the machine is available for anyone. Some machines have a small spring or a curled metal strip that a card or a 1,000Y note can be placed in to perform the same function. In some parlors, you can signal an attendant from the battle counter that you want something to eat/drink brought to you.

Play until you run out of money or just get tired. At that time, if you've won anything, you can signal the attendant with the call button on the battle counter or you might catch their eye. By crossing your index fingers in front of you, you indicate that you are done. The attendant will carry the tray of balls to the counter or bring a cart to carry multiple trays.


(pic of ball counter)
At the counter, the balls are dumped in and counted. These are very fast, about 4,000 per minute. On the counter there are 3 sets of numbers. The purple or left numbers are the increment. This varies from parlor to parlor and is a unit of measure for redemption at that particular parlor. The next set of numbers (green), is the actual number of balls you've won. The third set (Yellow) are the remainder after the last increment.

(What does increment mean?)

Say you've won 4,962 balls and the increment is 43. The counter would say

115   4962   17

There are 2 buttons on the counter. Pressing the green button prints a receipt for the total amount. Pressing the Yellow button prints a receipt for the amount minus the remainder and returns the remainder to you. I assume for you to keep or use in another machine or vending machine. Yes, some vending machines in parlors accept pachinko balls!

The receipt is only good at that particular parlor and only for that day. They are time and date stamped so you can't come in later and try and redeem them.
(pic of receipt)

The redemption rate varies from parlor to parlor (they will tell you what it is). A general rule is 2.5円 per ball.
Take this receipt to the redemption counter to get your prize/es! There are many things you can get, varying with how many balls you've won. They even have small snacks and candies that are only a ball or two!

(pic of redemption counter)

(List)