Las Vegas day care opens in Kamagaya as franchise operator Relay Life adds third site

Las Vegas Day Service Kamagaya, a casino-themed day care centre for older people, opened on 12 October 2026 in Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is the third site operated by Relay Life, following centres in Yachiyo and Narashino. The new facility joins the Las Vegas network of 22 company-owned and franchised centres and also serves people living in selected areas of neighbouring Funabashi.

New Kamagaya centre offers transport from northern Funabashi

The centre is located in Higashi-Kamagaya 2-chome, around a 15-minute walk from Kamagaya-Daibutsu Station on the Keisei Matsudo Line. A preview for stakeholders was held on 8 October, ahead of the opening. Operating hours are 9am to 6pm, with the centre closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Its pick-up and drop-off service covers Kamagaya and parts of Funabashi. In Funabashi, the service reportedly covers areas from around Kanasugi northwards. Alongside the address and nearest station, this transport coverage is an important feature of the opening, enabling residents of a neighbouring city to attend.

Prospective users and their families should check whether their home falls within the actual transport catchment area. The announcement refers to selected areas of Funabashi, not the whole city. Anyone considering the service should confirm transport arrangements for their address rather than relying solely on the centre’s location.

Games encourage outings and participation in functional training

The Las Vegas day care concept was launched around 13 years ago by Nihon Senior Life, based in Tokyo’s Minato ward. Guided by the belief that “people will not keep coming unless they enjoy it”, the service aims to help users participate willingly in activities designed to maintain or improve their physical and everyday functioning.

Games such as mahjong and pachinko, a Japanese pinball-style game, are used to encourage people to leave home and take part in functional training. The casino-inspired setting is part of that approach. Rather than simply providing somewhere to spend the day, the concept emphasises enjoyment that makes people want to attend.

The Kamagaya centre has also sought to create an atmosphere distinct from conventional care facilities. Staff wear casino-style uniforms, while black minivans are used for transport. The approach extends beyond the indoor games to staff presentation and the experience of travelling to the centre.

Relay Life representative Hiroshi Kumita says the company is working to create a lively, engaging environment, based on the belief that “helping people smile and experience joy is the best rehabilitation”. The centre’s pachinko machines include models known as ‘amadeji’, which have relatively high jackpot probabilities. The Umi Monogatari, or Sea Story, series is said to be popular.

These comments describe the operator’s vision for the centre. The games and setting should be assessed separately from the functional training provided to each user. Alongside the recreational activities, prospective users and families should check how support will be tailored to the individual’s needs.

Company founded through an employee proposal operates under a licence agreement

Relay Life is based in Tokyo’s Chiyoda ward. It is a subsidiary established through an employee proposal scheme at Maruhan East Japan Company, which operates pachinko halls and other businesses. Relay Life runs the new centre under a licence agreement with Nihon Senior Life.

Kumita says his experience of caring for his own parent made him recognise the need to support older people. In April 2023, the company opened its first franchised centre inside the ism Midorigaoka complex in Midorigaoka, Yachiyo, Chiba Prefecture. The complex also houses the Maruhan Megacity Yachiyo Midorigaoka pachinko hall.

A second centre opened in Izumicho 3-chome, Narashino, in October 2025. Kamagaya is the company’s third site, extending its presence within Chiba Prefecture from Yachiyo to Narashino and now Kamagaya.

It is important to distinguish the size of the overall brand network from the number of sites operated by Relay Life. The Las Vegas total of 22 centres includes both company-owned and franchised locations; it is not Relay Life’s own portfolio. This opening takes Relay Life to three sites. The new centre’s operating arrangement is described as a licence agreement with Nihon Senior Life.

What franchise businesses should note about the operator and local service coverage

For those assessing Japan’s franchise market, this opening offers a case study combining an established brand’s model with the origins of a franchise operator’s business. Relay Life, which emerged from an employee proposal scheme, now operates several centres under Nihon Senior Life’s Las Vegas brand.

However, the brand name alone does not explain the specific service available in Kamagaya. The location, days of closure, transport catchment area and on-site facilities all need to be considered individually. A notable feature here is that, although the centre is in Kamagaya, it also accepts users from selected parts of Funabashi.

Businesses considering a franchise or multi-site operation should likewise distinguish the scale of the brand network from the expansion record of an individual operator. What can be established here is that Relay Life opened its first franchised centre in 2023, then added sites in 2025 and 2026. That opening record alone does not establish the profitability of individual centres or indicate future expansion prospects.

Practical takeaway: Families considering the service should confirm transport coverage and the support provided. Prospective franchisees should check the contractual structure and how operating responsibilities are divided. Looking beyond the brand’s distinctive features to what each site actually provides is the first step towards a meaningful comparison.