Things You Need to Know When Going to Robot Restaurant

As a holiday destination, Japan has many, many drawcards. Close proximity to Australia? Check. Safe cities with friendly people? Check. Snow? Check. Shopping? Check. Culture? Well, you get the picture. It has it all. 

Aside from what usually makes a country worth visiting, though, Japan has that extra something special other places really can’t offer; it possesses is a certain frenetic spirit that is so juxtaposed to the refined and modest culture its roots are steeped in, you just have to throw yourself into it to truly understand.

Tokyo can be a particularly wild place, with some dining and cultural experiences that are not only exclusive to the city but immersions that are so out there they feel like they wouldn’t even be allowed in your home country. One such place that is this crazy (but definitely law-abiding) is Robot Restaurant, an establishment that is equal parts mind-boggling and captivating.

So, are you ready for the trip of a lifetime? 

Despite its name, Robot Restaurant isn’t one of those ultra-modern places where you lodge your order via a computer at your table and have the food pop out of a chute. Robots do feature heavily in the décor, however, from the giant ones you can sit on near the front door, to the vivid, chrome-finished walls and multicoloured lights throughout the restaurant.

While robots are purported to be the focus of the restaurant, you will also be faced with mystical creatures, ninjas and an array of other colourful characters during the performance.

Untamed and unpredictable, there’s nothing robotic about the pace of this venue!

Robot Restaurant is situated in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho district, which is a very central and busy spot. Kabukicho is actually the red-light district but like most red-light districts in major tourist destinations, it is actually very safe for tourists to be here, so don’t let the name put you off. 

Shinjuku is popular with tourists because it is on the direct train line from Narita airport, and it features a range of hotels, shopping destinations and food outlets that suit all tastes and budgets. 

If you’re not already staying in or near Shinjuku, you will have no trouble getting here, as its train station is a major city hub.

 

The best way to guarantee your reservation at Robot Restaurant at the particular time and day you want to visit is by pre-purchasing your ticket. You will also save some hard-earned dollars, which means you will have more to spend on drinks! 

You can choose from a variety of times throughout the day and night as well as being able to opt-in for a meal or snacks. Pre-purchasing your tickets is also a great way to surprise someone with a visit to this kooky place without letting on where you are going!

 

In spite of its space-age interiors, Robot Restaurant is really like any other restaurant or bar, so save the zany costumes and wigs for the performers. The official dress code is smart casual, however, if you’re one who likes to dress up for a night on the town you continue to do you!

Something that is very important to note is that all tattoos must be covered, and sunglasses are also prohibited from being worn inside the premises.

Robot Restaurant lauds itself as being kid-friendly and it is generally a fun way to give them a taste of the whacky, colourful and high-tech side of Tokyo. That being said, it is important to remember that it is a bar where alcohol is being served and where people may become rowdy.

If you wouldn’t want to take your kids to a place like this in your own country it might be best to avoid it, but do know that kids are very welcome to attend and there is no reason to believe they would be unsafe or exposed to anything they shouldn’t be seeing (the show itself is not raunchy or offensive).

Depending on the time of year, you can grab a reservation at Robot Restaurant at a number of times throughout the afternoon until around ten o’clock each night.

What time you choose to attend is up to you, but it is recommended you arrive some time earlier than your session begins so you can indulge in a drink and some bar snacks and soak up the atmosphere. Even if you get there quite early you can hang in the bar before being led into the theatre. Besides, you’ll need some time to pose with the décor and props to get that perfect shot for Instagram, won’t you?

Technically, Robot Restaurant offers a cabaret-style dinner and performance. However, when you make your reservation you will have the option of adding a meal or snacks to your ticket. The meal is basically a bento box, so if this isn’t up your alley then you might want to only purchase snacks or save your money altogether to spend on booze once you’re at the venue. You can drink before the show and also purchase snacks and more drinks during intervals in the performance. 

Shinjuku plays host to loads of fantastic eateries, so if you want to use your time at Robot Restaurant as an opportunity to pre-game before a big night out then you won’t be short of other choices for dinner venues if you’re in the market for something not served at Robot Restaurant.

If you thought that by the year 2020 robots would be working in our homes and flying our cars for us, you might want to check out some active ones to fulfil these fantasies. At Henn na Café in Shibuya you can have your coffee, tea or hot chocolate made by Sawyer the Coffee Making Robot. It’s a little gimmicky but it gives you a taste of what we all thought the world would be like by now.

The Robot Hotel in Ginza is an even better way to get a sense of the future and holds the Guinness World Record for the first hotel that has ‘employed’ a robot as staff. Here you will be checked in by a robot and can even have one sing you to sleep. Is that super cool or super creepy?

For a less active but Transformer-like experience, visit Odaiba. Odaiba is a man-made island that has been created as a family-friendly destination complete with shops and restaurants. A twenty-metre-tall robot statue also calls Odaiba home and is a great prop to pose next to for some cool photos!

Robot Restaurant is the only one of its kind, but if you love weird and wonderful dining experiences and want to see more unusual places in Tokyo, you could also check out Maidreamin Café, where you will be doted on by waitresses dressed as maids while you taste desserts shaped like puppies that will melt your heart quicker than the ice cream they’re made from.

Hedgehog Home and Café is a venue dedicated to the humble hedgehog. Interact with these cuties in their tiny homes as you enjoy tea or coffee with a serving of adorable.

 Hoo Hoo loves owls? More like hoo hoo doesn’t?!

It wouldn’t be wise to miss out on the Tokyo Owl Café if you’re an animal lover. These friendly folk have been raised by humans since birth and love to keep visitors company while they relax with a beverage. Tokyo Owl Café provides a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with an owl and is a delightfully pure experience.

Whether you’re interested in robots or not, put those thoughts aside. Robot Restaurant is consistently touted as a must-visit destination for tourists visiting Tokyo because it is one of the most unexpectedly fun and positively unique activities you could experience on your trip.

So, what are you waiting for? Book now and get ready for your intergalactic adventure!