When it comes to weird and wonderful places to eat and drink, nothing beats Japan’s colourful capital. Allow yourself to be charmed by Japan and its classically weird culture with these strange themed cafés.
Robot Restaurant
The Robot Restaurant is one of the most popular and well known Japanese themed cafes in Tokyo. Filled with vivid colours and buzz that Tokyo is so well-known for, be prepared for a bout of bizarre sci-fi, neon-lit, colourful fun. The show begins from the moment you sit down, and the dining experience continues to get crazier with every passing minute. There are light and fire shows, skimpily-clad girls dancing with the huge robots and unlimited quirkiness throughout all acts.
The cafe is located in the Kabukicho area of Tokyo, right next to the red-light district. Upon entering, it almost feels like you are stepping into an alternate universe. It’s unlike anything you will have ever seen before. The restaurant has a decent menu but no one actually cares about eating. In fact, since you already purchased tickets for the show, buying something to eat or drink is not necessary. You can still try their various interesting light in the dark cocktails or even a delicious bento box to enjoy during the show as a snack.
Soineya: Cuddle Cafes
Sometimes, after a long, stressful day, there’s nothing more comforting than crawling into bed with your significant other and falling asleep in their arms. But what if you don’t have anyone to cuddle with in the first place? Japan has found a solution to this as well. Soineya translates to “sleep together shop”. But wait! Before you raise your eyes and think of it as a brothel, let me tell you that the place is meant for sleeping next to the girls not with them.
Aimed at single men, Soineyas are thought to be the perfect remedy for a lonely heart. The menu is extensive, and admission alone will set you back about $25. Options start with a 20 minute nap and range up to 10 hours, or a very full night’s rest. Add-ons like choosing the girl you sleep with, head petting, spooning, sleeping in the girl’s arms, staring at each other for 1 minute costs extra. The cuddle cafes have been a very fruitful experiment in Tokyo and now can be found all over the city.
The Lockup: Dungeon Cafe
Haunted houses aren’t usually known for their delicious cuisine, but here is a place where you can enjoy your food while getting frightened half to death. Go to The Lockup where the wait staff will chain you to your seat, drag you to your ‘cell’, serve you drinks in test tubes, and beakers with floating eyeballs, a skewered hand that looks like it could start moving any time, and other spooky-looking food.
If you manage to look pass the food, the staff won’t let you eat in peace and will occasionally roam the halls to scare the people. This place is for someone who’s really into horror or want to break up with their partner (just one date to this place people!)
Zauo Shinjuku: Fishing Restaurant
Come here for freshest of the seafood available. Not only does this place has a massive aquarium in the middle, it also allows people to catch their own meal. Zauo provides the thrilling experience of catching your choice of fish and then having a chef prepare it to your liking, whether you prefer sashimi, deep fried, sushi or grilled.
Diners will be seated in a boat-like area overlooking a moat of sorts where they can net up their finds, pass it to the waiter, and have them cook it up into a fresh seafood feast. Not to worry, there’re even how-to guides if you’re a novice (like many, many others!) at fishing.
Ninja Akasaka: Ninja Café
Many people assume that ninjas are either totally extinct, or are still creeping around old castles swapping information and killing their enemies. What if the ninja came to serve you the best steaks and sashimi? Surprisingly, this restaurant has attracted the 88th Japanese PM and Grammy Award Winners.
Ninja by name, ninja by nature—this restaurant is hard to spot unless you know where to look, with a low-key black front and small sign. Once you’re in, you’ll be guided through secret passages and trap doors to reach the secret village within. The inside of the restaurant is indeed like a small village, with stone huts and hanging moss, waterfalls and five small ponds. The waiters are dressed like ninjas and will put on a little show every time they bring you food, bringing it to you from random places, surprising you each time.
Kawaii Monster Cafe
Kawaii Monster Cafe is a colourful, trendy and totally instagram worthy cafe located in Harajuku, the center of trends and fashion in Tokyo. Get ready to be transported into a hallucination-like rainbow trance as you are greeted by wait-staff decked in a jumble of different colours at this restaurant. This internationally famous restaurant also features lit-up rainbows and carousels where dancers perform for guests
Completely encapsulating Tokyo’s love for the colourful and all things fun and crazy, the restaurant serves tasty food items in all sorts of crazy, neon colours, in the form of cute bunnies or kawaii monsters.
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